#smartwatchinfringement

🎯 Apple Wins $250 US Jury Verdict in Patent Case Over Masimo Smartwatches

On Friday, a federal jury sided with Apple, finding that earlier versions of Masimo's smartwatches infringed on two of Apple’s design patents, as part of an ongoing intellectual property dispute between the two companies.

The jury in Delaware agreed that Masimo's previous W1 and Freedom watch models, along with their chargers, willfully violated Apple’s smartwatch design patents.

Despite Apple’s market valuation of roughly $3.5 trillion, the jury awarded the company just $250 in damages—the statutory minimum for patent infringement in the U.S.

Apple's attorneys emphasized that the lawsuit’s main goal was not monetary compensation but securing an injunction to halt sales of Masimo’s smartwatches following the infringement finding.

However, the jury also concluded that Masimo’s current watch models do not infringe on Apple patents related to the inventions Apple alleged were copied.

Masimo expressed appreciation for the jury's verdict, stating it favored Masimo "on nearly all issues" and clarified that the decision applied only to "a discontinued module and charger."

"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 added.

Apple, in response, said it was "glad the jury's decision today will protect the innovations we advance on behalf of our customers."

Masimo, based in Irvine, California, previously accused Apple of poaching its employees and misappropriating its pulse oximetry technology after the two companies discussed a potential collaboration.

Last year, Masimo persuaded the U.S. International Trade Commission to block imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after the commission determined their blood oxygen monitoring technology infringed Masimo’s patents.