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ITC Judge Says Apple Watch Redesign Doesn’t Infringe as Appeals Court Upholds Earlier Ban

Apple can keep selling the iPhone‑processed blood‑oxygen version in the U.S. for now, pending full ITC commission review.

Overview

  • Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya issued an initial determination finding no direct or induced infringement by the current blood‑oxygen implementation.
  • The recommendation now goes to the full International Trade Commission, which can affirm, modify, or reverse the ruling.
  • The Federal Circuit separately affirmed the ITC’s 2023 exclusion order, so Apple cannot restore the original on‑watch version of the feature.
  • Apple’s workaround shifts pulse‑oximetry processing and results display to a paired iPhone, a design U.S. Customs cleared in August 2025 that Masimo is challenging in court.
  • The wider dispute continues across multiple venues, including Masimo’s $634 million jury award in November 2025 and its pending acquisition by Danaher, while Apple says it is evaluating further review options.