Back in 2020, Masimo, a medical technology company, filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming it used patented technology that relies on light to measure blood oxygen levels. The ITC sided with Masimo and banned imports and sales of Apple Watches with this feature. The feature was not removed but disabled via software.
Though Apple later appealed, the ban was partially lifted. Last week, Apple rolled out an update in the US that finally lets users access the blood oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This comes through a combined iPhone and Apple Watch software update.
It was assumed that Masimo might fight back on this decision, and this is what has happened now, though this time the target is not Apple but US Customs. Masimo has filed a new lawsuit against the US Customs and Border Protection.
The company says that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) overstepped its authority and violated due process when it reversed its earlier decision on August 1 and allowed Apple to restore the Blood Oxygen feature. It also mentioned, Masimo only discovered this ruling on Thursday, August 14, 2025, when Apple publicly announced it would be reintroducing the pulse oximetry functionality through a software update.
The company is now asking the court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block the CBP’s decision and reinstate the ruling that determined that Apple’s redesigned watches could be imported only to the extent the infringing functionality was completely disabled.
It is mentioned that this move by CBP effectively nullifies the ITC’s exclusion order against Apple. Let’s see what the court decides regarding this lawsuit.
Via.
