Apple Shuts Down Masimo’s Apple Watch Ban Bid as ITC Terminates Six-Year Patent Clash

The U.S. International Trade Commission drew a line under a contentious chapter in the Apple-Masimo patent war on April 17, 2026. By declining to review an administrative law judge’s finding of no infringement, the ITC terminated proceedings against Apple’s redesigned Apple Watches. This move clears the path for continued U.S. sales of models featuring the blood-oxygen capability. Masimo’s push to revive an import ban—rooted in disputes over pulse oximetry tech—fell short.

Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya had ruled on March 18 that Apple’s updates sidestepped Masimo’s patents. Both sides petitioned for review. The commission said no. ‘This combined proceeding is hereby terminated in its entirety with the conclusion that the accused redesigned products do not infringe the Asserted Patents,’ the ITC stated in its order, as reported by 9to5Mac.

Apple wasted no time celebrating. ‘We thank the ITC for its decision, which ensures we can continue to offer this important health feature to our users,’ the company told 9to5Mac. ‘For more than six years, Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple, and nearly all of its claims have been rejected.’ The iPhone maker highlighted its redesigned Blood Oxygen app, now processing data primarily on paired iPhones rather than the watch itself. Users get readings alongside ECG, irregular rhythm alerts, and hypertension notifications—all with Apple’s signature privacy focus.

But rewind. The saga began years ago. In October 2023, the ITC found certain Apple Watch models infringed Masimo’s light-based blood-oxygen patents, triggering a limited exclusion order. Series 9 and Ultra 2 imports halted just before Christmas that year. Apple pulled the feature from U.S. models to comply, sparking redesigns and emergency appeals. A federal stay paused the ban temporarily. U.S. Customs and Border Protection later greenlit Apple’s tweaks.

Masimo fought back hard. It challenged the approvals and sought enforcement. Judge Bhattacharyya’s initial determination in March 2026—no infringement—aligned with Apple. The full commission’s refusal to revisit sealed it. Yet the original exclusion order stands for pre-redesign watches, affirmed by the Federal Circuit in a separate March 19 ruling that upheld the ITC’s domestic industry findings and infringement calls on older models, per IPWatchdog.

So Apple sells on. No ban reinstated. Sales channels stay open during peak seasons. Masimo, though, holds cards. It can appeal to federal court. Separate district court battles simmer, including a $634 million jury verdict against Apple from late 2025 over related patents, as noted in older coverage but still unresolved. Danaher, Masimo’s parent since a 2025 acquisition, watches closely.

Industry watchers see patterns. Wearables now pack medical-grade sensors. Pulse oximetry detects low oxygen levels, vital for sleep apnea or altitude monitoring. Apple entered late, debuting it on Series 6 in 2020. Masimo, a pioneer since the 1990s, accused Apple of poaching talent and tech. Ex-Masimo execs joined Apple in 2013-2014; Masimo cried theft. Courts rejected inequitable conduct claims repeatedly.

Redesign details matter. Apple’s shift offloads computation to iPhones. The watch collects light data via LEDs and photodiodes—red and infrared wavelengths penetrate skin, measuring absorption differences for SpO2 estimates. Processing happens elsewhere. Judge Bhattacharyya deemed this non-infringing on patents like U.S. Nos. 10,912,502 and 10,945,648. Clever engineering. Or workaround? Masimo called it evasion.

Financial stakes run high. Apple Watch generated over $18 billion last fiscal year, per analyst estimates. A ban threatened holiday hauls. Stock dipped briefly in 2023 but recovered. Masimo’s market cap, bolstered by Danaher, weathers blows—yet repeated losses sting. ‘Meritless attempt,’ Apple labeled Masimo’s ITC filings back in 2025.

And broader ripples. ITC cases test Section 337 of the Tariff Act, shielding U.S. industries from unfair imports. Masimo proved domestic investment via prototypes, satisfying requirements despite limited commercial sales. Federal Circuit backed that in March. Tech giants face more such probes—think Samsung, Fitbit. Patents here cover signal processing for noisy wrist data. Motion artifacts. Skin tone variations. Accuracy demands FDA nods for medical claims; Apple sticks to wellness.

Masimo stays mum post-decision. No statement yet. But history suggests persistence. CEO Joe Kiani framed it as protecting innovation, not blocking rivals. Apple counters with its R&D billions in health. Features save lives—detecting falls, afib, now oxygen dips.

Short term: Apple Watches flow freely. U.S. buyers access blood-oxygen again, post-2024 return. Long term? Appeals loom. District trials drag. Masimo’s W1 smartwatch competes directly, mimicking Apple design—irony not lost. ITC closure lifts immediate clouds. Apple refocuses on Series 11, Ultra 3 rumors. Health tech marches on.

Victory. Temporary? Masimo plots next moves. Watch this space.