Jury awards Apple $250 in design patent lawsuit against Masimo

A federal jury sided with a major tech company, determining that a health monitoring company's smartwatches infringed on two of the tech company's design patents. In Delaware, the jury found that the health company's W1 and Freedom watches and chargers willfully copied the design, awarding $250 in damages. The primary aim was to seek an injunction against selling the watches post-ruling. However, the jury also ruled that the health company's watches did not infringe on other patents related to smartwatch inventions.

The health monitoring company noted that the verdict favored them on most issues and impacted only a discontinued module and charger. They stated the tech company primarily sought an injunction against current products, viewing the jury's decision as a victory on that front. Meanwhile, the tech giant expressed satisfaction with the decision to protect their innovations.

The health company accused the tech giant of poaching employees and misappropriating pulse oximetry technology following discussions about a potential partnership. Previously, restrictions were placed on the tech company's smartwatch imports, citing infringement. The tech giant subsequently appealed and resumed sales after removing the contested technology. It also filed a countersuit alleging the health company copied features for its products. The health company argued that the tech company's lawsuit was retaliatory, aimed at avoiding ongoing legal disputes in various courts.