UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
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| In the Matter of | | |
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| CERTAIN LIGHT-BASED | | Investigation No. 337-TA-1276 |
| PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT | |
| DEVICES AND COMPONENTS | | |
| THEREOF | | |
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NOTICE OF THE COMMISSION’S FINAL DETERMINATION FINDING A VIOLATION OF SECTION 337; ISSUANCE OF A LIMITED EXCLUSION ORDER AND A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER; TERMINATION OF THE INVESTIGATION
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has found a violation of section 337 in the above-captioned investigation. The Commission has determined to issue: (1) a limited exclusion order (“LEO”) prohibiting the unlicensed entry of infringing wearable electronic devices with light-based pulse oximetry functionality and components thereof covered by certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,912,502 or 10,945,648 that are manufactured by or on behalf of, or imported by or on behalf of, respondent Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) or any of its affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities, or its successors or assigns; and (2) a cease and desist order (“CDO”) directed against Apple and any of its affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities, or its successors or assigns. This investigation is terminated.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald A. Traud, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20436, telephone (202) 205-3427. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email [email protected]. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation on August 18, 2021, based on a complaint filed on behalf of Masimo Corporation and Cercacor Laboratories, Inc., both of Irvine, CA (collectively, “Complainants”). 86 FR 46275 (Aug. 18, 2021). The complaint, as amended, alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain light-based physiological measurement devices and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,912,501 (“the ’501 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 10,912,502 (“the ’502 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 10,945,648 (“the ’648 patent”); U.S. Patent No. 10,687,745 (“the ’745 patent”); and U.S. Patent No. 7,761,127 (“the ’127 patent”). Id. The amended complaint further alleged that an industry in the United States exists and/or is in the process of being established as required by section 337. Id. The notice of investigation named Apple of Cupertino, California as the sole respondent. Id. at 46276. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations is not participating in this investigation. Id.
Complainants previously withdrew certain asserted claims pursuant to Order No. 25 (Mar. 23, 2022), unreviewed by Comm’n Notice (Apr. 12, 2022), and Order No. 33 (May 20, 2022), unreviewed by Comm’n Notice (June 10, 2022). Only claim 12 of the ’501 patent, claims 22 and 28 of the ’502 patent, claims 12, 24, and 30 of the
’648 patent, claims 9, 18, and 27 of the ’745 patent, and claim 9 of the ’127 patent remain in the investigation. Claim 18 of the ’745 patent is still at issue for purposes of the domestic industry only.
On January 10, 2023, the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) issued the final initial determination (“Final ID”), which found that Apple violated section 337 as to claims 24 and 30 of the ’648 patent, but not as to claim 12 of the ’501 patent, claims 22 and 28 of the ’502 patent, claim 12 of the ’648 patent, claims 9 and 27 of the ’745 patent, and claim 9 of the ’127 patent. See Final ID at 335–36. On January 24, 2023, the ALJ issued a Recommended Determination on remedy and bonding (“RD”) should a violation be found in the above- captioned investigation. The RD recommended that, if the Commission finds a violation, it should issue an LEO directed to certain wearable electronic devices with light-based pulse oximetry functionality and components thereof that are imported, sold for importation, and/or sold after importation by Apple; and a CDO directed to Apple. RD at 2, 5. The RD additionally recommended that the Commission set a zero percent (0%) bond (i.e., no bond) during the sixty- day period of Presidential review. Id. at 6. In its notice instituting this investigation, the Commission did not instruct the ALJ to make findings and recommendations concerning the public interest. See 86 FR at 46275–76.
On January 23, 2023, Complainants and Apple each filed a petition for review. On January 31, 2023, Complainants and Apple each filed responses to the other party’s petitions.
On February 23, 2023, the parties filed their public interest statements pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4). The Commission received numerous comments on the public interest from non-parties.
On May 15, 2023, after considering the parties’ petitions and responses thereto, the Commission determined to review the Final ID in part. See 88 FR 32243, 32243–46 (May 19, 2023). In particular, the Commission determined to review the following findings of the Final ID:
(1) the domestic industry with regard to the ’501 patent, the ’502 patent, the ’648 patent, and the ’745 patent;
(2) obviousness with regard to the ’501 patent, the ’502 patent, the ’648 patent, and the ’745 patent;
(3) written description with regard to claim 28 of the ’502 patent and claim 12 of the ’648 patent;
(4) claim construction and infringement with regard to the ’745 patent; and
(5) subject matter jurisdiction.
Id. The Commission requested briefing on certain issues under review and on remedy, the public interest, and bonding. See id.
On June 5, 2023, the parties filed their written submissions on the issues under review and on remedy, public interest, and bonding, and on June 12, 2023, the parties filed their reply submissions. The Commission also received numerous comments on the public interest from non-parties.
Having reviewed the record in this investigation, including the written submissions of the parties, the Commission affirms with modifications the Final ID’s domestic industry findings (both economic and technical prong) as to the ’501, ’502, ’648, and ’745 patents. The Commission additionally affirms with modifications the Final ID’s conclusion that the asserted claims of the ’501 patent are obvious, but the asserted claims of the ’502, ’648, and ’745 patents are not obvious. The Commission has determined to reverse the Final ID’s finding that Apple proved by clear and convincing evidence that claim 28 of the ’502 patent and claim 12 of the ‘648 patent are invalid for lack of written description. Furthermore, the Commission affirms the Final ID’s claim construction related to the recited term “first shape” and the related conclusion that the Accused Products do not satisfy elements [1B] and [20B] of the ’745 patent. The Commission additionally vacates the Final ID’s finding that the Commission has subject matter jurisdiction over the investigation and instead finds that the Commission has statutory authority over the investigation. The Commission affirms the remainder of the Final ID that is not inconsistent with the Commission’s opinion issued concurrently herewith. As a result, the Commission finds that Apple has violated section 337 as to claims 22 and 28 of the ’502 patent and claims 12, 24, and 30 of the ’648 patent.
The Commission has determined that the appropriate form of relief is an LEO prohibiting (1) the unlicensed entry of infringing wearable electronic devices with light-based pulse oximetry functionality and components thereof manufactured by or on behalf of Apple or any of its affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities, or its successors or assigns. The Commission has also determined to issue a CDO against Apple. The Commission has determined to include an exemption to the remedial orders for service or repair or, under warranty terms, replacement of products purchased prior to the end of the period of Presidential review.
The Commission has further determined that the public interest factors enumerated in subsections (d)(l) and (f)(1) (19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(l), (f)(1)) do not preclude issuance of the above- referenced remedial orders. Additionally, the Commission has determined to impose a bond of zero (0%) (i.e., no bond) of entered value of the covered products during the period of Presidential review (19 U.S.C. 1337(j)). This investigation is terminated.
The Commission vote for this determination took place on October 26, 2023.
The authority for the Commission’s determination is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in Part 210 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR Part 210).
By order of the Commission.
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| | /s/ Lisa R. Barton |
| | Lisa R. Barton |
| | Secretary of the Commission |
| Issued: October 26, 2023 | | |
United States International Trade Commission Issues Exclusion Order for Infringing Apple Watches, Finding that Apple Violated U.S. Trade Laws
Decision Holds World’s Largest Company Accountable for Its Patent Infringement
Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2023 - Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) today announced that the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has recommended a limited exclusion order for infringing Apple Watches with light-based pulse oximetry functionality. The USITC found that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) violated U.S. laws by incorporating Masimo’s patented light-based pulse oximetry technology in its products. The exclusion is scheduled to go into effect after a 60-day Presidential review period.
“Today’s ruling by the USITC sends a powerful message that even the world’s largest company is not above the law,” said Joe Kiani, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Masimo. “This important determination is a strong validation of our efforts to hold Apple accountable for unlawfully misappropriating our patented technology,” added Mr. Kiani.
Comments from two dozen academic institutions, leading antitrust and intellectual property scholars, physicians, investors, nonprofits, and members of Congress were filed in support of the public’s interest in the exclusion order. These comments conveyed a similar message: to protect innovation, such as Masimo’s technology, and to protect public health, it is necessary to preserve incentives to innovate and protect intellectual property and fair competition.
In its comment submitted to the ITC, the Consumer Federation of America stated, “There is no greater offense to both the antitrust and intellectual property law than when a dominant firm infringes the patent of a smaller rival, who is an actual or potential competitor. In this case, as in the other cases involving Apple’s egregious abuse of market power, the harms far outweigh the benefit. In fact, because competition will swiftly replace any services or products that Apple is no longer able to deliver because of the remedy, there will be little harm and a great deal of benefit for consumers and the economy.”
@Masimo | #Masimo
About Masimo
Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is a global medical technology company that develops and produces a wide array of industry-leading monitoring technologies, including innovative measurements, sensors, patient monitors, and automation and connectivity solutions. In addition, Masimo Consumer Audio is home to eight legendary audio brands, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio. Our mission is to improve life, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the cost of care. Masimo SET® Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximetry, introduced in 1995, has been shown in over 100 independent and objective studies to outperform other pulse oximetry technologies.1 Masimo SET® has also been shown to help clinicians reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity in neonates,2 improve CCHD screening in newborns3 and, when used for continuous monitoring with Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ in post-surgical wards, reduce rapid response team activations, ICU transfers, and costs.4-7 Masimo SET® is estimated to be used on more than 200 million patients in leading hospitals and other healthcare settings around the world,8 and is the primary pulse oximetry at 9 of the top 10 hospitals as ranked in the 2022-23 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll.9 In 2005, Masimo introduced rainbow® Pulse CO-Oximetry technology, allowing noninvasive and continuous monitoring of blood constituents that previously could only be measured invasively, including total hemoglobin (SpHb®), oxygen content (SpOC™), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®), methemoglobin (SpMet®), Pleth Variability Index (PVi®), RPVi™ (rainbow® PVi), and Oxygen Reserve Index (ORi™). In 2013, Masimo introduced the Root® Patient Monitoring and Connectivity Platform, built from the ground up to be as flexible and expandable as possible to facilitate the addition of other Masimo and third-party monitoring technologies; key Masimo additions include Next Generation SedLine® Brain Function Monitoring, O3® Regional Oximetry, and ISA™ Capnography with NomoLine® sampling lines. Masimo’s family of continuous and spot-check monitoring Pulse CO-Oximeters® includes devices designed for use in a variety of clinical and non-clinical scenarios, including tetherless, wearable technology, such as Radius-7®, Radius PPG®, and Radius VSM™, portable devices like Rad-67®, fingertip pulse oximeters like MightySat® Rx, and devices available for use both in the hospital and at home, such as Rad-97®. Masimo hospital and home automation and connectivity solutions are centered around the Masimo Hospital Automation™ platform, and include Iris® Gateway, iSirona™, Patient SafetyNet, Replica®, Halo ION®, UniView®, UniView :60™, and Masimo SafetyNet®. Its growing portfolio of health and wellness solutions includes Radius Tº®, Masimo W1™, and Masimo Stork™. Additional information about Masimo and
its products may be found at www.masimo.com. Published clinical studies on Masimo products can be found at www.masimo.com/evidence/featured-studies/feature/.
RPVi has not received FDA 510(k) clearance and is not available for sale in the United States. The use of the trademark Patient SafetyNet is under license from University HealthSystem Consortium.
References
1.Published clinical studies on pulse oximetry and the benefits of Masimo SET® can be found on our website at http://www.masimo.com. Comparative studies include independent and objective studies which are comprised of abstracts presented at scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journal articles.
2.Castillo A et al. Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants through Changes in Clinical Practice and SpO2 Technology. Acta Paediatr. 2011 Feb;100(2):188-92.
3.de-Wahl Granelli A et al. Impact of pulse oximetry screening on the detection of duct dependent congenital heart disease: a Swedish prospective screening study in 39,821 newborns. BMJ. 2009;Jan 8;338.
4.Taenzer A et al. Impact of pulse oximetry surveillance on rescue events and intensive care unit transfers: a before-and-after concurrence study. Anesthesiology. 2010:112(2):282-287.
5.Taenzer A et al. Postoperative Monitoring – The Dartmouth Experience. Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Newsletter. Spring-Summer 2012.
6.McGrath S et al. Surveillance Monitoring Management for General Care Units: Strategy, Design, and Implementation. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2016 Jul;42(7):293-302.
7.McGrath S et al. Inpatient Respiratory Arrest Associated With Sedative and Analgesic Medications: Impact of Continuous Monitoring on Patient Mortality and Severe Morbidity. J Patient Saf. 2020 14 Mar. DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000696.
8.Estimate: Masimo data on file.
9.http://health.usnews.com/health-care/best-hospitals/articles/best-hospitals-honor-roll-and-overview.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including, but not limited to: risks related to further proceedings, including the Presidential review period and any appeals ,as well as other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today’s date. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these statements or the “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.
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| Media Contact: | | | | |
| Masimo | | | | |
| Kristen Budreau | | | | |
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