As the Apple Watch sales pause officially goes into effect, more companies are publicly coming forward with praise for the ITC’s decision. This time, another health tech company involved in a separate patent dispute with Apple has expressed support for Masimo after successfully enacting the sales halt in its favor (via 9to5Mac).
The company in question is AliveCor, which specializes in electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors and equipment that measure the heart’s electric activity. AliveCor is itself involved in a separate dispute with Apple over the ECG sensor first introduced with the Apple Watch Series 4. Like Masimo, AliveCor accuses the Cupertino company of stealing trade secrets and infringing on its intellectual property after a possible partnership meeting back in 2015 where it demonstrated its own Apple Watch band with an embedded ECG monitor.
In a new statement given to 9to5Mac, AliveCor conveys its support for “Masimo’s tenacity” in its legal dispute with Apple. The health tech company also believes that “industry giants” should be further scrutinized for their “anticompetitive practices that would ultimately limit access to potentially life-saving technology.”
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This is the second time in less than 12 months President Biden has allowed an International Trade Commission Limited Exclusion Order (LEO) to stand against imports of Apple Watches that violate the patents of small U.S. innovators. Earlier this year, AliveCor’s patent for its FDA-cleared personal electrocardiogram (ECG) technology was similarly affirmed and we share our support today for Masimo’s tenacity in its face off with Apple. Innovator companies and health consumers alike should be encouraged that industry giants are increasingly being held accountable for anticompetitive practices that would ultimately limit access to potentially life-saving technology.
AliveCor statement to 9to5Mac
As alluded to in its statement, AliveCor similarly sued Apple with the ITC over alleged infringement of ECG-related patents. While the ITC sided with AliveCor in 2022 just like it did with Masimo, it has yet to issue an Apple Watch sales ban over the ECG dispute. Nevertheless, Masimo’s sales ban victory is an inspiring sign for AliveCor in its quest to secure another sales pause over its patents.
