Masimo Can Go Pound Sand
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2026 10:36 pm
ITC Judge Rules Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Workaround Does Not Infringe Masimo Patents
[via Reuters]
A U.S. trade tribunal preliminarily ruled that Apple's (AAPL.O) current Apple Watches do not infringe patents owned by Masimo (MASI.O), rejecting the medical-monitoring company's bid for a renewed import ban on the tech giant's smartwatches.
Apple altered its watches to circumvent an import ban that the U.S. International Trade Commission issued in 2023. An ITC judge agreed with Apple in a ruling made public on Thursday that the redesigned watches do not violate Masimo's patent rights in blood-oxygen reading technology.
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The full commission will now decide whether to affirm the decision.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday separately affirmed the tribunal's 2023 ruling that had blocked Apple from importing Apple Watches that infringed Masimo's patents, although Apple has since resumed importing its redesigned watches.
Apple said in a statement that it was pleased with the ITC's decision and will evaluate "all avenues for further review" of the Federal Circuit's ruling. "For six years, Masimo has brought dozens of false claims against Apple, nearly all of which have been rejected," Apple said.
A Masimo spokesperson declined to comment.
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A U.S. trade tribunal preliminarily ruled that Apple's (AAPL.O) current Apple Watches do not infringe patents owned by Masimo (MASI.O), rejecting the medical-monitoring company's bid for a renewed import ban on the tech giant's smartwatches.
Apple altered its watches to circumvent an import ban that the U.S. International Trade Commission issued in 2023. An ITC judge agreed with Apple in a ruling made public on Thursday that the redesigned watches do not violate Masimo's patent rights in blood-oxygen reading technology.
Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.
The full commission will now decide whether to affirm the decision.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday separately affirmed the tribunal's 2023 ruling that had blocked Apple from importing Apple Watches that infringed Masimo's patents, although Apple has since resumed importing its redesigned watches.
Apple said in a statement that it was pleased with the ITC's decision and will evaluate "all avenues for further review" of the Federal Circuit's ruling. "For six years, Masimo has brought dozens of false claims against Apple, nearly all of which have been rejected," Apple said.
A Masimo spokesperson declined to comment.