News Summary

A federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay Masimo, a medical device manufacturer, $634 million for infringing on a patent related to blood oxygen monitoring technology. The dispute centers on the Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notification features, which Masimo claims violate its patent. This case is part of a broader legal battle where Masimo accuses Apple of hiring its employees and infringing on its pulse oximetry technology patents. Apple, which plans to appeal the decision, argues that the verdict contradicts the facts and notes that the patent in question expired in 2022. Previously, the U.S. International Trade Commission had banned Apple from importing Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring capabilities. Apple has since developed a new feature that calculates blood oxygen levels on the user’s paired iPhone to circumvent the ban.