Apple wins symbolic $250 in Masimo Watch patent trial

A federal jury ruled Friday that Masimo’s smartwatch infringed the Apple Watch patent, but awarded Apple just $250 in damages. This is the legal minimum amount that Apple can seek if Masimo’s alleged infringement proceeds with a jury trial rather than a court trial.

Masimo’s discontinued W1 Freedom smartwatch

According to bloomberg lawThe jury found that Masimo’s original design of the W1 Freedom and Health module and its charger knowingly infringed Apple’s design patents. However, Masimo said the ruling only applies to discontinued modules and chargers. This distinction undermines Apple’s claim that it caused irreparable harm, and although the company won damages, the decision effectively ended Apple’s opportunity to block Masimo’s current products. It turns out.

“Apple primarily seeks an injunction against Masimo’s current products, and the jury’s verdict is a victory for Masimo in this matter,” a Masimo spokesperson said in a statement.

The case was sparked by Apple’s counterclaim in its ongoing legal battle with Masimo, which has won an injunction against imports of some Apple Watch models over a pulse oximetry patent. The breach forced Apple to disable blood oxygen monitoring features on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models sold in the United States. This feature is also missing from the US version of Apple Watch Series 10. Apple Watch remains fully functional outside the country.

During the trial, Apple’s lawyer John Desmarais argued that financial compensation was not the company’s goal, telling jurors: “We’re not here for the money. We don’t want people to copy our designs. I want it to stop.”

An Apple spokesperson said that while “Apple teams have been working on the Apple Watch for years,” “Masimo took a shortcut and released a device that copied the Apple Watch, infringing our intellectual property.” ”, the company defended its position.