Jury Awards Apple $250 in Patent Dispute Against Masimo Over Smartwatch Design
A federal jury in Delaware awarded Apple $250 in damages after finding that Masimo, a health-monitoring tech firm, infringed on two of Apple’s design patents with its W1 and Freedom smartwatches. Apple argued that Masimo’s smartwatch models, along with their chargers, intentionally copied its patented designs, and the jury sided with Apple on this claim. The award, however, was modest, reflecting only a nominal penalty.
The outcome marks a partial win for Apple, which had sought an injunction to halt sales of Masimo’s smartwatches. The jury concluded that Masimo’s watches did not infringe on other patents covering specific Apple smartwatch technologies that Apple alleged Masimo had replicated.
In response, Masimo noted that the verdict affected only a discontinued version of its smartwatch module and charger, calling the decision “a victory” for the company. “Apple primarily sought an injunction against Masimo’s current products, and the jury’s verdict is a victory for Masimo on that issue,” the company said in a statement.
Apple, in its own statement, said it was “glad the jury’s decision today will protect the innovations we advance on behalf of our customers.”
The companies have a complex legal history. Masimo previously accused Apple of poaching its employees and misappropriating pulse oximetry technology after a potential collaboration failed to materialize. In 2022, Apple filed a countersuit alleging Masimo had copied key Apple Watch features in its smartwatch line. Masimo maintains that Apple’s actions were “retaliatory” and intended to sidestep their ongoing legal disputes.
As the legal battles continue, the tech rivalry highlights the competitive landscape surrounding smartwatch innovations and the ongoing disputes over patent rights in the health-monitoring technology space.
