Apple scores key win in 6-year watch patent dispute

(P1) The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Friday let stand a judge’s finding that Apple’s redesigned watches do not infringe on patents held by Masimo Corp., a decision that prevents a second import ban on the company's flagship wearable. The ruling allows Apple to continue selling its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches in the US with a modified blood oxygen feature, a core part of its health and wellness strategy.

(P2) "We thank the ITC for its decision, which ensures we can continue to offer this important health feature to our users," an Apple representative said. "For more than six years, Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple, and nearly all of its claims have been rejected."

(P3) The dispute began in 2020 when Masimo sued Apple, alleging the tech giant poached employees and stole its pulse oximetry technology. In October 2023, the ITC found Apple did infringe some of Masimo's patents, leading to a brief import ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in December 2023. Apple quickly disabled the feature, but later introduced a redesigned version in August 2025 where the blood oxygen data is analyzed on a paired iPhone, a workaround the ITC has now validated.

(P4) This ruling solidifies the feature set for one of Apple's key growth products and removes a significant legal overhang that had clouded the wearable's future. For Masimo, the decision is a major setback in its US legal strategy, though it did secure a $634 million damages award from a separate federal jury in California in November 2025, a verdict Apple plans to appeal.

The Redesigned Feature at the Center of the Ruling

The core of the ITC's decision rests on a software and process change Apple implemented. After the initial import ban, Apple re-engineered the blood oxygen monitoring system. Instead of having the Apple Watch itself both measure and analyze the data for display, the redesigned feature uses the watch's sensors to collect raw data, which is then transmitted to a paired iPhone. The iPhone's Health app performs the analysis and displays the final blood oxygen saturation percentage to the user.

This architectural shift was enough for US Customs and Border Protection to approve the redesigned watches for import, and the recent ITC decision affirms that this workaround does not infringe on Masimo's patents. While Masimo argued this was a distinction without a difference, the trade body disagreed, effectively ending the threat of another import ban unless Masimo successfully appeals.

A Long and Costly Legal Battle

The legal conflict between the two companies has spanned multiple venues since 2020. The fight has included patent infringement claims at the ITC, a civil lawsuit in California federal court, and challenges to US Customs decisions.

While the ITC has cleared the path for Apple's sales, the financial repercussions are not over. The $634 million jury award to Masimo in California remains a significant point of contention. Apple is appealing that verdict, arguing the patent in question expired in 2022. Masimo, for its part, has consistently stated its commitment to defending its intellectual property, suggesting that while the import ban front may be closed, the broader legal war may not be entirely over. The outcome of Apple's appeal will be the next major event to watch in this long-running corporate saga.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.