Apple received two bitter fruits at the same time

Apple suffered two legal defeats in one day, being forced to pay $634 million in damages to Masimo and facing a possible ban on Apple Watch imports.

The blood oxygen level measurement feature is at the center of the legal battle between Apple and Masimo. Photo: Bloomberg .

On November 15, a federal jury in California ruled that Apple must pay $634 million to health technology company Masimo. On the same day, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) announced a new investigation into the Apple Watch. This is a double defeat for Apple in a legal battle that has lasted for many years.

The verdict covers approximately 43 million Apple Watches sold between 2020 and 2022. The jury determined that the Apple Watch's workout mode and heart rate notification features infringed on Masimo's patent, which covers low-energy pulse oximetry technology.

The Santa Ana trial centers on whether the Apple Watch can be considered a “patient monitoring device.” Apple’s lawyers argue that the term only applies to continuous clinical monitoring devices.

Masimo countered by pointing to Apple's own descriptions of the device. The company stressed that the Apple Watch detects high resting heart rates with 95% accuracy. Masimo also cited internal Apple documents calling the Apple Watch " the world's most widely used heart rate monitor." The jury agreed with Masimo's argument.

Apple rejected the ruling and announced it would appeal.

The ITC investigation will examine whether the remedy Apple offered in August still infringes Masimo's patents. Apple moved the processing of blood oxygen data from the watch to the iPhone to avoid the previous import ban. The ITC aims to complete its investigation in six months.

The dispute stems from a 2013 meeting between the two sides. Masimo accused Apple of hiring its employees and stealing its pulse oximeter technology. Masimo has spent nearly $200 million over the past five years fighting Apple.

“When Apple takes an interest in a company, it’s the kiss of death,” Masimo founder Joe Kiani told the Wall Street Journal . In 2023, a judge declared the trade secrets lawsuit between the two sides invalid after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. In 2024, Apple won a countersuit against Masimo and was awarded $250 million in damages.

Source: https://znews.vn/apple-cung-luc-nhan-2-trai-dang-post1603179.html