Apple Decides Not To License Masimo’s Patents Despite Watch Import Ban

This dispute led to an import ban on certain Apple Watch models in the US. Despite the ban, Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that the company has no intention to licence Masimo’s blood oxygen detection to end the import ban. Cook mentioned that the company is focused on appeals and that there are several other reasons to buy the watch, even without the blood oxygen sensor.

Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 Disabled

The ban affects the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, with the blood oxygen sensor being disabled via software in the models sold after the ban was imposed. However, the models sold before the ban still have functional blood oxygen detection. It is likely that Apple might add the blood oxygen detection function back using a software update if and when the import ban ends.

Apple Masimo Patent Dispute

Masimo has expressed its willingness to settle with Apple, and the sales of the affected Apple Watch models have resumed without the blood oxygen features amid the patent infringement dispute. Apple’s appeal is ongoing, and the company is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to the Apple Watch with limited disruption.The dispute arose after the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) ordered a ban on some Apple Watch imports into the US, ruling that Apple violated Masimo patents related to non-invasive blood oxygen sensing. Apple has been working on a software fix to address the issue, but Masimo believes that a hardware change is necessary to address the patent violations.

As a result of this dispute, the ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the US on or after January 18, 2024. The Blood Oxygen app on these watches will occasionally measure blood oxygen levels if the feature was available before the ban.