Turn up the noise! Humanize tech stories In this twist on a tale of big technological changes, healthcare company Masimo got caught up with tech powerhouse Apple over violating an obscure patent covering chip relay controls. Masimo chief executive Joe Kiani revealed the company was approached by Apple in 2013 which, he said, offered to either acquire or hire them. Skip ahead to the present day, and Masimo alleges that Apple deliberately plundered their intellectual property. They say they know for a fact that the telecommunications giant hired at least 20 Masimo engineers when developing its product.
In an interview with the TV station Bloomberg, Kiani declared that Masimo is a real brain behind these technologies. Consequently, although we are open to a settlement, none appears. But the ITC recently ruled in Masimo’s favor, and Apple now must stop sales within 60 days or be subject to a proposed import ban from December 25th.
Would this halt to sales make the Apple Watch 9 a collector’s item? Masimo appears to believe so, noting that even tech giants actually have to respect the rules of the game. Apple, on the other hand, strongly rejects this ruling by ITC and plans to investigate all legal remedies available as well as technical channels and means of persuasion.
Fuels for the patent war While this story of public confidence, loss and rec During such legal dramas it’s not unusual to see injured parties hitting back. Now Apple does indeed allege that Kiani started the whole dispute in an effort to promote his own smartwatch (which many people consider a copy of Cupertino’s). As the two parties maintain their entrenched positions, it is anyone’s guess whether these trendy wearables will be allowed to survive for long. Whether enthusiasts or attorneys are watching this high-stakes battle of wits, they have a reason to look forward to its next act.
