Apple Watch Faces New Lawsuit Over Revived Blood Oxygen Feature
▼ Summary
– Masimo is suing US Customs and Border Protection to overturn its decision allowing Apple to restore the blood oxygen tracking feature on Apple Watches.
– Apple disabled the feature on US models after an ITC import ban in December 2023 due to patent disputes with Masimo dating back to 2020.
– Masimo claims CBP failed to notify them of the reversal, preventing them from reviewing or challenging the ruling before Apple announced the redesigned feature.
– In its filing, Masimo suggested Apple’s substantial US investments may have influenced CBP’s decision, which it called a departure from established practice.
– Masimo seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to reinstate the original ruling requiring Apple to disable the infringing patent tech on imported Watches.
Medical technology firm Masimo has initiated legal action against U.S. Customs and Border Protection, challenging the agency’s recent decision to permit Apple to reactivate the blood oxygen monitoring function on certain Apple Watch models. This development marks the latest escalation in a prolonged intellectual property dispute between the two companies concerning patented sensor technology.
The conflict traces back to 2020, when Masimo first accused Apple of infringing on its pulse oximetry patents. Following an International Trade Commission import ban issued in December 2023, Apple disabled the contested feature on its watches sold in the United States. Last week, however, Apple reintroduced a re-engineered version of the capability, shifting the blood oxygen calculation process from the wearable device to the user’s iPhone.
In its legal filing, Masimo contends that CBP failed to provide adequate notice of its reversal, denying the company a chance to review or contest the decision before it took effect. The complaint further suggests that Apple’s significant domestic investments may have influenced the agency’s unusual procedural departure. Masimo emphasized that the ruling enables ongoing patent infringement and inflicts competitive harm.
The medical device manufacturer is now seeking both a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to suspend CBP’s revised ruling. If granted, these measures would compel Apple to once again disable the blood oxygen feature on imported watches, reinstating the earlier requirement that infringing technology must be entirely removed for devices entering the U.S. market.
(Source: The Verge)
