Medical technology company Masimo is currently engaged in legal action against the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in an effort to challenge the agency’s decision that permitted Apple to restore the blood oxygen tracking function for Apple Watches. This dispute arises from an ongoing conflict regarding Masimo’s blood oxygen sensor patent, which has seen Apple disabled the feature on supported U.S. models following an import ban mandated by the International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2023.
In a complaint filed recently, Masimo asserts that the CBP failed to inform the company of its decision to reverse the ITC restrictions, thus denying Masimo the chance to review or contest the ruling. Masimo claims it became aware of the CBP’s reversal only after Apple announced a redesigned pulse oximetry feature that now measures blood oxygen levels through iPhones rather than the Watch.
The filing also references Apple’s investment in the United States following unsuccessful appeals against the ITC ban but does not explicitly accuse Apple of wrongdoing. Masimo argues that the decision to allow Apple to reactivate the blood oxygen feature occurred while Apple was allegedly still infringing on Masimo’s patents. The company contends that the process leading to this ruling deviates substantially from the CBP’s typical practices regarding ruling requests.
Masimo emphasizes the impact of the CBP’s ruling, stating that the ongoing decision inhibits Masimo’s ability to operate without unfair trade practices and undermines its competitive position in the U.S. market. The company is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block the ruling that allows Apple to restore the blood oxygen features, aiming to reinstate the prior ruling that allowed imports only if the infringing technology was entirely disabled.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/763291/apple-masimo-blood-oxygen-patent-customs-lawsuit