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Apple Ordered to Pay $634M for Patent Infringement

11/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A California jury ordered Apple Inc. to pay Masimo Corp. $634 million for infringing Masimo Corp.'s pulse oximetry patent tied to Apple Watch oxygen monitoring.
The jury found Apple Inc. violated all four claims; Masimo says Apple Watch is a patient monitor.
Apple plans to appeal, arguing the patent expired in 2022 and covers outdated technology.
The ruling comes as the U.S. International Trade Commission weighs Apple Watch import bans.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent for pulse oximetry technology in 1990, leading to significant advancements in patient monitoring. Masimo Corp., founded in 1989, generated over $1 billion in revenue by 2021. The recent ITC ruling against Apple Inc. for patent infringement highlights ongoing tensions in tech and healthcare, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property in innovation.

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Story summary

A California jury ordered Apple Inc. to pay Masimo Corp. $634 million for infringing Masimo Corp.'s pulse oximetry patent tied to Apple Watch oxygen monitoring.
The jury found Apple Inc. violated all four claims; Masimo says Apple Watch is a patient monitor.
Apple plans to appeal, arguing the patent expired in 2022 and covers outdated technology.
The ruling comes as the U.S. International Trade Commission weighs Apple Watch import bans.

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