Apple has been instructed to a settlement worth $634 Million over their use of blood-oxygen reading technology reportedly patented by medical devices company Masimo.
A Masimo spokesperson told Reuters a court in California had ruled the workout mode and heart rate notifications on Apple Watch are in breach of its patents.
The spokesperson hailed the win as significant in its efforts to protect its innovations and IP, with the company launching several lawsuits in multiple courts. The patent in this case expired in 2022, “and is specific to historic patent monitoring technology from decades ago”, added the spokesperson.
The legal dustup with Masimo is over the use of light-based pulse oximetry functionality, a feature which measures oxygen levels.
Apple and Masimo have engaged in a long-standing dispute over light-based physiological measurement devices with the latter alleging the iPhone-maker has stolen its technology.
An Apple spokesperson said it disagreed with the fine and plans to appeal.
New proceeding
Separately, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) plans to hold a new proceeding to decide whether imports of some Apple smartwatches should be banned due, again, to patent disputes with Masimo.
In 2023, Apple announced it would stop selling two models of its Apple Watch, due to a patent ruling against the company by the ITC. The body blocked imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 devices in the US.
In August, the tech giant reintroduced the ability to monitor blood oxygen data in the US through a workaround.
At the time, Apple announced a redesigned feature would be available for customers who bought devices without the original version through software updates for the wearable and iPhone.
Apple won approval to sell the watches following a decision by US Customs and Border Protection.
Bloomberg reported Masimo is suing US Customs and Border Protection while Apple is contesting the ITC’s ban in a US federal appeals court.
*Additional reporting by Kavit Majithia
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Apple
