Background on the Dispute
The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) decided on Friday to initiate a new proceeding to determine if imports of Apple’s updated Apple Watches should be banned due to a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo.
In a statement, the ITC said it would investigate whether the redesigned Apple Watches, intended to circumvent a previous import ban, still infringe Masimo’s patents related to blood oxygen measurement technology.
Key Players and Relevance
Masimo, based in Irvine, California, is a medical technology company specializing in patient monitoring. The company has accused Apple of hiring its employees to steal innovations in pulse oximetry, a technology used to measure blood oxygen levels.
Timeline of Events
- 2023: The ITC blocked imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches, deeming they infringed Masimo’s patents.
- August 2023: Apple reintroduced an updated version of the blood oxygen reading technology in their watches following U.S. Customs and Border Protection approval.
- Ongoing: Masimo has sued Customs over the approval, while Apple challenges the ITC ban in a federal appeals court separately.
- 2023: Masimo sued Apple in a federal court in California for patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Santa Ana Jury: A jury is currently evaluating Masimo’s claims that Apple owes up to $749 million in damages for patent infringement.
- California Judge: A California judge declared the Masimo trade secrets case against Apple null and void in 2023 after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
- Delaware Case: Apple won a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo in Delaware last year in a counterclaim alleging that Masimo’s smartwatches infringe on two of Apple’s design patents.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the dispute about? The disagreement centers around patent infringement related to blood oxygen measurement technology in Apple’s smartwatches.
- Who are the main parties involved? The dispute is between Apple and Masimo, a medical technology company specializing in patient monitoring.
- What actions have been taken so far? The ITC has blocked Apple Watch imports, Masimo sued Customs and Apple separately, and both companies have counterclaimed against each other in federal courts.
- What is the potential financial impact? Masimo claims Apple owes up to $749 million in damages for patent infringement, while Apple won a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo in a design patent counterclaim.
