Apple is taking bold steps to overturn a sales ban affecting its Apple Watch models equipped with blood-oxygen sensors. The ban originated from a decision by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC), which ruled that Apple had infringed on patents held by Masimo. Now, Apple has turned to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in hopes of reversing the ruling.
At the heart of the issue lies Masimo’s claim that Apple’s wearables improperly used its oximeter technology. However, interestingly, Masimo’s own competing device was not yet available when this legal battle began. This fact has led judges to question the fairness of the ITC’s decision to block Apple Watch sales.
During a recent hearing, Apple attorney Joseph Mueller argued that the ban has deprived millions of users of the valuable health-monitoring feature. In response, Masimo’s lawyer, Joseph Re, countered that Apple was attempting to ‘rewrite the law’ with its legal challenge. The judges took note, questioning whether Masimo’s underdeveloped product at the time justified the imposed sales restriction.
Apple maintains that the ban was improperly enacted since Masimo’s applicable device was described as ‘purely hypothetical’ when they filed their complaint. It’s worth noting that Apple introduced blood-oxygen monitoring to its devices in 2020, while Masimo only released its version in 2022. Despite Masimo’s significant $100 million investment in this legal battle, it has managed to block or at least restrict the functionality of Apple’s oximeters in certain models.
The legal confrontation has sparked discussions of a possible resolution without forming a licensing agreement. Meanwhile, Apple’s top brass, including Tim Cook, have expressed no interest in licensing Masimo’s patents. On a related note, the recent turbulence within Masimo’s leadership saw their CEO, Joe Kiani, ousted from his position by shareholders in 2024.
The unfolding drama between these tech titans adds another layer to the ever-evolving landscape of patent disputes and innovation. As both sides continue to navigate the legal system, users and industry insiders await the verdict that could reshape access to health technology on popular wearables.
