Apple Blood Oxygen Feature Workaround Sparks Fresh Masimo Lawsuit

[Terry2023]

Masimo is just trying to extort money for an invalid patent. I can’t wait for 2027 when their invalid patent expires. Then let every factory in China turn out their O2 monitors for $0.11 each.

Apple wins. Consumers win. Hospitals win. Doctors win. Criminals will have to find a new scheme.

 

[Meatwad]

In the complaint, it says Apple tried proposing this exact method of offloading processing to the iPhone before in January 2025 but was denied by CBP.

The rest of the complaint is redacted, but it appears the 24K gold trophy Tim Cook provided earlier this month made a difference. CBP immediately changed their minds and ruled differently when Apple presented the same idea again.

That's what I'm most interested in. What differences can be claimed between the method that was denied and the method that was allowed?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple has refused to properly license Masimo’s technology. So, you don’t get the feature and you’re mad at Masimo 🙄

Pretty amazing isn't it?

It honestly boggles the mind.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The decision to invest $100B and present the trophy was likely planned and communicated to the White House back in June or July. You can't just design and build a custom 24k gold trophy in a week.

Once the WH knew about the investment decision, they would have been a lot more open to hearing about any legal concerns Apple had.

Correct ... a nice fuzzy little quid pro quo action.

 

[Meatwad]

Masimo is not the injured party here - they just took a chance and succeeded patenting the Apple Watch tech after Apple was already selling it. No wonder Apple doesn't feel like they owe them a thing.

Here's my favorite part. Apple won a lawsuit against Masimo because their Freedom and W1 watches violate Apple patents. Furthermore, they got the information that allowed them to violate the patents via their lawsuit against Apple. I think Apple was only awarded $250 but it just seems pretty weak to use what you learn in a lawsuit to do the exact same thing you're suing over.

 

[BobVB]

That's what I'm most interested in. What differences can be claimed between the method that was denied and the method that was allowed?

Masimo has actually mentioned 'trade secrets' in their complaints. It may be the algorithm that is on the chip to turn the sensor readings into a pO2 value is too similar to the one that Masimo uses giving some weight to the idea that Apple hired their techs to get that kind of information. Now, if the algorithm on the phone is very different than the one on the chip and Apple can show step by step how they independently developed it (there usually is more than one way to skin a cat) - the complaint about 'trade secrets' is diluted or gone and allows them to use the sensor data once again.

 

[eifelbube]

If the DofC US DC rules against Apple, I would not be surprised if the orange man, “motivated’ by a certain glass and gold plaque, would make a phone call to the US C&B P on TC’s behalf …

 

[JPack]

That's what I'm most interested in. What differences can be claimed between the method that was denied and the method that was allowed?

There were no technical differences. The difference was CBP reviewed the case and applied a different enforcement standard.

January 2025: Watch ("redesigned") + iPhone combination does infringe on Masimo's patents. The Watch alone did not meet all patent claims, but the system as a whole infringed. Entry denied.

August 2025: Five Watches ("redesigned") shipped separately without iPhones do not infringe on patents. Entry allowed. CBP brings up an obscure previous case where a ink container and adapter were denied entry because they were in the same shipment. Shipped separately, the ink parts would not infringe but as a "system," they would.

CBP explains their rationale in the decision letter below.

CROSS Customs Rulings Online Search System

rulings.cbp.gov

 

[rirell]

Masimo a patent troll or does the name of the company the initials for "Mac App Store In My Opinion"?

Maximo is a maker of medical monitoring devices. There are these new fangled things called search engines. You should give them a try sometime.

 

[krewger]

So someone steals your life's work and your advice to them is to get a life. OK.

I can’t buy a watch from them with their tech. Quit suing. Sell and move on.

 

[dampfnudel]

Why didn’t Apple just pay them so all of this could have been avoided.

 

[pankajdoharey]

Well Masimo should either compete gracefully or get into some other business like selling diapers.

 

[1984]

Then maybe Apple should just pay to use it like every other company has to do who wants to use Masimo's technology.

Are other companies paying to use their technology? They wanted $100 per Apple Watch which is quite absurd and I can’t imagine Google/Fitbit or any others paying that assuming they’re using the same technology which brings up the question if there are alternatives why isn’t Apple using them?

 

[Musocat]

I got a pulse oximeter on Amazon for ten bucks, mostly as a curiosity. O2 sat is no big deal unless you're actually sick, so I don't understand all the drama over this feature. Pulse rate and EKG are far more useful metrics to monitor. The vaaaaast majority of people don't need to worry about O2 sat on a day-to-day basis. Those who do need to worry about it can get a fingertip monitor for a few bucks.

 

[Rachid Vàzquez]

If I understand you, no one gained o2 sensor functionality by 18.6.1, it just changed how it was done if you had an AW with it enabled (on-watch vs on-iPhone)?

You're right but it wasn't my point. What I mean is that after the ban, buyers knew very well they were purchasing an Apple Watch without the SPO2 sensor feature since it had disappeared from the official feature details; it wasn’t false advertising.

But it must have cost them a lot to redo all the packaging lol.