Masimo argues Apple is ‘abusing its power’ by delaying legal fight to gain more Apple Watch sales

In light of the Apple Watch Series 6 launching earlier this month, Masimo has ramped up its legal battle with Apple.

If you’ll recall, Masimo sued Apple earlier this year, way back in January, and argued that Apple had stolen trade secrets related to health monitoring for the Apple Watch. Masimo argued at the time that, dating back to 2013, Apple had seem interested in partnering with Masimo for health-related features in the smartwatch lineup. However, Apple didn’t follow through with that plan and Masimo says Apple utilized Masimo’s inventions to launch health monitoring features for the Apple Watch lineup.

Now, according to Bloomberg, Masimo has ramped up its legal fight against Apple. The company has filed new documents with the court, saying that Apple is “abusing its power” in an effort to “capture the market” with the Apple Watch Series 6 and its new blood oxygen monitoring feature by trying to delay the lawsuit filed against it by Masimo.

Postponing the case “would allow Apple to seize on a critical window of opportunity to capture an emerging field,” Masimo said in the filing Monday. “Just as it has done in numerous other markets, Apple seeks to use its considerable resources and ecosystem to capture the market without regard” to Masimo’s patents, the sensor-maker said.

Masimo says it reached out to Apple to ask questions regarding the blood oxygen monitoring feature in the Series 6, but Apple would not respond to any queries. Masimo says that Apple argued that the two companies are not in competition. And, unsurprisingly, said that talk about an incoming blood oxygen monitoring feature was simply “internet rumors” and nothing more.

Apple argues that delaying the lawsuit is about a potential invalidation of the patents held by Masimo, which Apple believes may happen with a review board.

Apple on Sept. 15 said delaying the patent aspect of the case while a review board considers its invalidity arguments might help narrow the issues for the court and “will undoubtedly reduce wasted resources”.

As is par for the course with this sort of thing, it doesn’t look like the legal battle between Apple and Masimo is going anywhere any time soon.