The protracted legal battle between Apple Inc. and Masimo Corporation over smartwatch patents has intensified, culminating in a significant jury verdict and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
On November 14, 2025, a federal jury in California determined that Apple must pay Masimo $634 million for infringing a patent related to blood-oxygen monitoring technology. The jury found that features in the Apple Watch, such as workout mode and heart rate notifications, violated Masimo’s intellectual property. Apple has expressed disagreement with the verdict and plans to appeal, contending that the patent in question expired in 2022 and pertains to older monitoring technology. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/us-jury-says-apple-must-pay-masimo-634-million-smartwatch-patent-case-2025-11-15/?utm_source=openai))
This verdict is part of a broader dispute between the two companies. Masimo has accused Apple of hiring its employees and misappropriating its pulse oximetry technology for use in Apple Watches. In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) imposed an import ban on Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after finding that Apple’s technology infringed Masimo’s patents. Apple responded by removing the contested feature and later reintroducing an updated version approved by U.S. Customs. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-trade-tribunal-consider-new-apple-watch-import-ban-2025-11-14/?utm_source=openai))
Despite these adjustments, the ITC has initiated a new investigation to assess whether Apple’s redesigned smartwatches still infringe Masimo’s patents. This could potentially lead to another import ban in the United States. The ITC aims to conclude its current investigation within six months. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-trade-tribunal-consider-new-apple-watch-import-ban-2025-11-14/?utm_source=openai))
In a separate legal action, Apple filed a lawsuit in Delaware accusing Masimo of patent infringement. In October 2024, a jury found that Masimo’s W1 and Freedom watches and chargers willfully violated Apple’s design patents, awarding Apple $250 in damages. However, the jury also determined that Masimo’s smartwatches did not infringe on Apple’s utility patents. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2024/10/25/masimo-apple-design-patents-apple-watch/?utm_source=openai))
These legal proceedings have had tangible effects on product availability. Following the ITC’s initial ruling, Apple paused U.S. sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in December 2023. The company has since modified these models to comply with patent regulations, but the blood-oxygen measurement feature remains disabled in the U.S. market. ([consumerreports.org](https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/smartwatch/apple-patent-dispute-ultra-2-series-9-smartwatches-a4679851226/?utm_source=openai))
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, both companies remain entrenched in their positions, with Apple seeking to overturn unfavorable rulings and Masimo striving to protect its intellectual property rights. The outcomes of the ongoing appeals and investigations will be pivotal in determining the future of smartwatch technology and market dynamics.