US judge rules Apple Watch infringed Masimo's pulse oximetry patent
Apple has officially lost in the first round of its patent war with Masimo.
An International Commission judge ruled that Apple infringed on one of five Masimo licenses connected with utilizing light sensors to quantify how much oxygen in the blood.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) published an initial decision in its Masimo-Apple investigation on Tuesday, after months of waiting and three delays. By importing and selling watches with functionality and components for light-based pulse oximetry, Apple violated one of Masimo's pulse oximeter patents, the ITC judge ruled. The judge decided that four other contested patents had not been violated.
In 2020, Apple introduced its pulse oximeter sensor in the Apple Watch Series 6, and it continues to use it in the company's current models. Masimo stated that the ITC will now consider whether to impose an import ban on these Apple Watches.
"We are happy that the judge recognized Apple’s infringement of Masimo’s pulse oximetry technology and took this critical first step toward accountability,” said Masimo CEO Joe Kiani.
“Today’s decision should help restore fairness in the market. Apple has similarly infringed on other companies’ technologies, and we believe today’s ruling exposes Apple as a company that takes other companies’ innovations and repackages them.” he added.
The judge's decision was only an initial ruling based on the ITC's findings from its investigation, therefore, the case's final decision will not be made until May 10.
