Apple Hit With Stunning 634 Million Dollar Verdict: Jury Says Company Stole Secret Watch Technology

Apple Ordered to Pay 634 Million Dollars to Masimo in Major Patent Battle

In a major blow to one of the world’s biggest tech giants, a federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay 634 million dollars to Masimo, a medical technology company, for infringing on its patented blood-oxygen monitoring features. The courtroom decision marks one of the largest judgments Apple has faced in recent years and represents the latest twist in a long-running legal fight between the two companies.

Masimo had long claimed that Apple used its proprietary health-monitoring technology inside the Apple Watch without permission. The jury agreed, concluding that the features used in workout mode and heart-rate notifications violated Masimo’s patent rights.

Apple, however, insists the ruling is wrong and says it will appeal.

How the Jury Reached Its Verdict

The heart of the case revolves around a specific patent covering blood-oxygen monitoring technology, something Masimo has developed and refined over many years. Masimo argued that Apple copied these innovations and incorporated them into several Apple Watch features that track user health during workouts and monitor heart performance.

According to Masimo’s spokesperson, the jury sided with the medical technology company on every major point. The spokesperson described the verdict as a significant victory for innovation protection and a clear message that intellectual property must be respected.

Apple strongly disagrees with the decision. A company representative stated that Apple will challenge the verdict, arguing that its technology was independently developed and does not violate Masimo’s rights.

A Patent War Years in the Making

This ruling is just one part of a much larger and increasingly heated legal conflict between Apple and Masimo. Their battle spans multiple lawsuits, trade challenges, and appeals.

Masimo has long claimed that Apple not only copied its technology but also actively hired away key Masimo employees to gain access to its proprietary research. According to the company, Apple used this inside knowledge to speed up the development of its own health-monitoring features for the Apple Watch.

These accusations have resulted in several major legal actions across the United States.

Why the Smartwatch Ban Became a Turning Point

One of the most dramatic moments in this dispute occurred in 2023, when a US trade tribunal found that Apple had infringed Masimo’s blood-oxygen patents. As a result, the tribunal issued a temporary ban on importing Apple’s Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models.

The ruling sent shockwaves across the tech world. For a period, Apple was forced to pull these popular models from the US market and adjust production plans. The company responded by removing the blood-oxygen reading technology altogether from some models to avoid violating the ban.

Then, in August, Apple introduced an updated version of the technology after receiving approval from US Customs and Border Protection. This allowed Apple to resume selling updated watches that met the agency’s requirements.

However, the matter is far from settled.

Ongoing Reviews and New Challenges

On the same day the jury issued the 634 million dollar verdict, the International Trade Commission announced it would hold a new proceeding. This review aims to determine whether Apple’s updated watches should still fall under the original import ban.

This adds yet another layer of uncertainty to Apple’s smartwatch business in the United States.

Meanwhile, Masimo has filed a lawsuit challenging the Customs approval that allowed Apple to reintroduce the updated features. Apple, on the other hand, has taken the import ban decision to a federal appeals court.

Both companies appear ready to continue the fight on multiple fronts, with neither showing signs of backing down.

A Long History of Legal Back-and-Forth

This isn’t the first time the companies have faced off in court. In 2023, a California judge was forced to declare a mistrial in a trade-secret case filed by Masimo when the jury could not agree on a verdict. The case involved allegations that Apple stole Masimo’s proprietary technology by hiring former employees who had access to sensitive data.

In a separate case, Apple won only a symbolic victory last year, receiving a minimal 250 dollar award after alleging that Masimo’s own smartwatches infringed two Apple design patents. Although technically a win, the small amount underscored the complexities of patent litigation between the two companies.

With each ruling, mistrial, and appeal, the battle continues to evolve, pulling the companies deeper into one of the most expensive technology patent disputes of recent years.

Why This Case Matters for the Tech Industry

Patent disputes between tech giants and smaller specialized companies are not new, but this case stands out because of its potential to reshape the future of wearable health technology. Blood-oxygen monitoring and heart-rate tracking have become central selling points for modern smartwatches, especially for consumers focused on fitness and wellness.

If courts continue to side with Masimo, Apple could face lasting restrictions on how it designs and builds its health-tracking features. This could force the company to invest heavily in new research, partnerships, or licensing agreements. It may also open the door for other medical technology companies to challenge Apple or negotiate more aggressively to protect their own innovations.

For consumers, the ongoing legal fight could influence which features become standard in future smartwatch releases. Temporary bans or redesigns could delay new models or limit certain health-tracking features.

What Happens Next?

The 634 million dollar judgment is likely just the beginning of a new phase in this complicated legal drama. Apple will appeal, which means the case could stretch on for years. Meanwhile, the trade commission review and the Customs lawsuit will continue to determine what kind of watch Apple is allowed to sell in the United States.

Both companies have powerful legal teams and billions at stake, and neither seems ready to concede. The coming months will likely bring more hearings, more rulings, and possibly more changes to Apple’s product line.

What is clear is that this battle has become far more than a simple patent disagreement. It is now a high-stakes showdown over who controls the future of wearable health technology.