Apple ordered to pay 98 billion yen by jury in patent infringement lawsuit regarding Apple Watch's blood oxygen concentration measurement function

Apple has been sued by medical device manufacturer Masimo, which claims that the blood oxygen sensor in its Apple Watch infringes its patent. On November 14, 2025, a jury trial in the lawsuit awarded Apple $634 million (approximately 98 billion yen).

US jury says Apple must pay Masimo $634 million in smartwatch patent case | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-jury-says-apple-must-pay-masimo-634-million-smartwatch-patent-case-2025-11-15/

Jury says Apple owes Masimo $634M for patent infringement | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/15/jury-says-apple-owes-masimo-634m-for-patent-infringement/

Masimo, a medical device maker, filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the Apple Watch's blood oxygen monitoring feature infringes its patents related to pulse oximetry technology, which uses an optical sensor to detect blood oxygen saturation. Masimo also claims that Apple headhunted several of its engineers, including its chief medical officer.

On October 27, 2023, the United States International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Masimo and issued an exclusion order prohibiting Apple from importing the device into the United States unless it removed the Blood Oxygen Wellness app.

The US International Trade Commission has ruled that the Apple Watch's blood oxygen monitoring feature infringes on a patent from medical device manufacturer Masimo.

As a result, Apple will stop selling the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 in the US in December 2023. It has also been revealed that Apple had asked the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to extend the sales suspension order, but that the request was denied.

Apple halts sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 over blood oxygen sensor patent dispute - GIGAZINE

The blood oxygen feature was subsequently removed from the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9.

Blood oxygen monitoring feature removed from Apple Watch Series 9/Ultra 2 to avoid import ban due to patent infringement - GIGAZINE

However, on August 1, 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unilaterally reversed its previous decision, and Apple released a 'redesigned blood oxygen monitoring feature' that restored the blood oxygen monitoring feature to U.S. Apple Watch users. Masimo filed a lawsuit again.

Masimo sues Customs and Border Protection over Apple Watch's blood oxygen monitoring feature reinstated - GIGAZINE

A jury ruled that the Apple Watch's workout mode and heart rate notification features infringed Masimo's patents, ordering Apple to pay $634 million (approximately 98 billion yen).

In response to the ruling, Masimo issued a statement saying, 'This is a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovation and intellectual property, which are critical to developing technologies that benefit patients.' 'We remain committed to protecting our intellectual property rights.'

An Apple spokesperson told Reuters that the company plans to appeal the ruling, saying, 'The only patent in this case expires in 2022 and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology that is decades old.'

Apple has filed a lawsuit alleging that Masimo's smartwatches infringe on Apple Watch patents, and has won the case.

Apple wins patent infringement lawsuit against Masimo, receives 38,000 yen in damages, but no sales injunction issued - GIGAZINE