In a recent development, a US International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has ruled that Apple did indeed infringe on one of Masimo’s pulse oximeter patents. Back in 2021, Medical technology company Masimo had filed a lawsuit against Apple over the Watch Series 6’s blood oxygen monitoring capabilities, accusing Apple of infringing on five of its pulse oximeter patents.
Though the judge has also found that Apple did not infringe on the other four patents involved in the case, the ITC will now reportedly investigate whether to impose an import ban on Apple Watches with this feature, as Masimo had requested when it filed the lawsuit. This decision will also affect newer Apple Watches, namely the Series 7 and 8, Ultra and SE, that have blood oxygen monitoring features.
Masimo CEO Joe Kiani has stated that the ruling is a “critical first step towards accountability” and that Apple has “similarly infringed on other companies’ technologies.” On the other hand, Apple has accused Masimo of being the one that copied its intellectual property. The final ruling for the case will be handed down on May 10th.
