Apple Wins Symbolic $250 in Masimo Watch Patent Trial

[MacRumors]

A federal jury Friday ruled that Masimo's smartwatches infringed on Apple Watch patents, but awarded Apple just $250 in damages, which is the statuary minimum amount Apple could seek while it pursues a jury trial rather than a court trial over Masimo's alleged infringements.

Masimo's discontinued W1 Freedom smartwatch​

According to Bloomberg Law, jurors found that the original design for Masimo's W1 Freedom and health module, plus its charger, willfully infringed on Apple design patents. However, Masimo said that the ruling only applied to a discontinued module and charger. The distinction undermines Apple's claim of irreparable harm, so while the company won damages, the decision essentially removed Apple's chance to block Masimo's current products.

"Apple primarily sought an injunction against Masimo's current products, and the jury's verdict is a victory for Masimo on that issue," a Masimo spokesperson said in a statement.

The trial came about due to Apple's countersuit in its ongoing legal battle with Masimo, which previously won an import ban on certain Apple Watch models over pulse oximetry patents. The infringement forced Apple to disable blood oxygen monitoring features in Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models sold in the US. The feature is also lacking in the US version of the Apple Watch Series 10. The Apple Watches remain fully functional outside of the country.

During the trial, Apple attorney John Desmarais claimed that monetary compensation wasn't the company's goal, telling jurors: "We're not here for the money. We want them to stop copying our design."

An Apple spokesperson defended the company's position, saying: "Teams at Apple worked for years to develop Apple Watch," while "Masimo took shortcuts, launching a device that copies Apple Watch and infringes our intellectual property."

Article Link: Apple Wins Symbolic $250 in Masimo Watch Patent Trial

 

[jz0309]

maybe this is an entry to settle the ongoing dispute between those 2, mainly the blood oxygen patent violations ...
One can hope

 

[klasma]

That doesn’t look like an Apple Watch to me, what were they smoking?

 

[roar08]

These legal battles have been, and still are, immeasurably more damaging for Masimo than Apple.

 

[ilikewhey]

These legal battles have been, and still are, immeasurably more damaging for Masimo than Apple.

based on what? masimo got free publicity, before this only these in the health industry knows their name. consumers in the knows are actively seeking older generation watches that still have functioning oxygen sensors.

 

[WilliApple]

L + Ratio Masimo.
You mess with Apple, Apple messes with you.

 

[Rayansb]

That 250 dollars can really screw up the books. The accounting department is gonna have to pull an all nighter working on this.

 

[victorvictoria]

Maybe I can get a new Apple Watch now?

 

[sw1tcher]

An Apple spokesperson defended the company's position, saying: "Teams at Apple worked for years to develop Apple Watch," while "Masimo took shortcuts, launching a device that copies Apple Watch and infringes our intellectual property."

Does this spokesperson also defend Apple's infringement of Masimo's patent? 🤣

Apple Watch Infringed Masimo's Pulse Oximetry Patent, US Judge Rules

Apple infringed on one of medical technology company Masimo's pulse oximeter patents when it launched Apple Watch models that use light sensors...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Someyoungguy]

Apple didn’t care about this before they lost the O2 sensor battle. They should just pay for licensing and move on. They can afford to play by the rules instead of pouting.

 

[anshuvorty]

I'm not a lawyer, so, what does this mean regarding the O2 sensor on future Apple Watches sold in the US moving forward? Is there a good chance that the feature will be re-enabled in the future as a result of this verdict?

 

[klasma]

I'm not a lawyer, so, what does this mean regarding the O2 sensor on future Apple Watches sold in the US moving forward? Is there a good chance that the feature will be re-enabled in the future as a result of this verdict?

Nothing, and no.

 

[anshuvorty]

Nothing, and no.

I see, ok.

 

[Abazigal]

Is $250 the amount that Masimo made from selling their smartwatch?

 

[mansplains]

At least you could afford a Masimo watch with such money. A Watch SE is more than that.

 

[Cheesehead Dave]

Good. Now just agree to drop everything and let Apple activate the oximeter on everyone's watch now.

 

[frownface]

congrats apple; if you wait for black friday you might be able to buy an apple watch with that $250

 

[djgamble]

That 250 dollars can really screw up the books. The accounting department is gonna have to pull an all nighter working on this.

IMO it's more the legal fees and repetitional damage of losing their more substantive claim (both relatively minimal) that may bother Apple.

Doubt they're losing too much sleep in any case.

 

[JPack]

Huge win for Masimo. Apple tried to sue for nothing and got nothing in return.

The case is basically saying Masimo violated the round ornamental design found the back of the watch. Sure, but who cares?

 

[cdsapplefan]

Huge win for Masimo. Apple tried to sue for nothing and got nothing in return.

The case is basically saying Masimo violated the round ornamental design found the back of the watch. Sure, but who cares?

Apple is more concerned with ditching Qualcomm than they are with Masimo. They probably will just buy out Masimo if they can.

 

[neuropsychguy]

At least you could afford a Masimo watch with such money. A Watch SE is more than that.

Apple Watch SE starts at $250.

 

[Naraxus]

Apple: We will vigorously defend our pantents against infringement.

Also Apple: We'll wilfully infringe on other's patents and tie them up for years in court thus bankrupting them.

 

[rp100]

Apple spends millions, if not billions, on legal teams that help them intentionally violate patents and harass anyone who dares to defend their IP. They even hired a former ITC chair in hopes of manipulating the outcome of the ITC decision. Apple couldn’t figure out how to litigate their way around the Masimo patent and now they are posturing themselves as the victim. Boo ***** hoo, you can’t win them all.

 

[GMShadow]

Masimo's CEO was recently forced out in a shareholder battle, I still expect all this to be settled soon.

 

[hieranonymous]

Apple has generally been more willing to settle these types of nuisance suits under Tim Cook than it was under Steve Jobs, so it’s wild to me that they’ve let the pulse oximeter litigation drag on this long. They could easily just acquire Masimo. Instead they’ve been shipping hardware with a disabled sensor for the better part of a year. Makes me wonder if they’re working on some kind of technical workaround for the existing disabled sensors and possibly a new sensor entirely for upcoming watches? Regardless, given the Apple Watch’s wellness positioning, it’s really bizarre that all the units currently being sold in the US aren’t capable of doing something every other smart watch, smart ring and fitness tracker is capable of doing—and something Apple Watches originally started doing half a decade ago.