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Medical technology company Masimo is suing US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for letting Apple revive blood-oxygen readings on its Apple Watches.
In October 2023, the International Trade Commission (ITC)Â banned Apple from selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 after it found that the watches infringed on Masimo’s patented light-based pulse oximetry technology. The ban was in effect for a few weeks before Apple removed the feature from its watches via a software update so it could once again sell the smartwatches.
Last week, blood oxygen readings returned to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 Apple redesigned the feature so that readings are taken on a paired iPhone, not the watch itself. “This update was enabled by a recent US Customs ruling,” Apple said in its announcement.
The last sentence didn’t sit well with Masimo. “On August 1, 2025, CBP issued an ex parte ruling permitting Apple to import devices that, when used with iPhones already in the United States, perform the same functionality that the ITC found to infringe Masimo’s patents,” the lawsuit states. Masimo says it found out about the development only after Apple made it public on Aug. 14.
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In taking the action without involving Masimo, CBP has exceeded its authority, acted unlawfully, and deprived the company of its due process rights, the lawsuit says. Masimo is now requesting the US District Court for the District of Columbia to block CBP’s Aug. 1 ruling, which could effectively block blood oxygen readings on Apple Watches once again.
“Each passing day that this unlawful ruling remains in effect irreparably deprives Masimo of its right to be free from unfair trade practices and to preserve its competitive standing in the US marketplace,” the company said in a statement provided to Bloomberg Law.
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About Jibin Joseph
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Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.
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