A late-night email to Apple Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO, Tim Cook, a decade ago could have been the catalyst for the ongoing high-stakes clash between the tech giant and medical device maker Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ:MASI).
The dispute centers on alleged patent infringement, poached talent, and the pivotal role of a blood-oxygen monitoring feature that now defines the Apple Watch’s health capabilities.
The Spark
In 2013, a scientist named Marcelo Lamego fired off an email to Cook, pitching a vision that could propel Apple to the forefront of the medical, fitness, and wellness market, Bloomberg reported, citing legal documents.
"I strongly believe that we can develop the new wave of technology that will make Apple the No. 1 brand in the medical, fitness and wellness market," he wrote, as per the report.
A chain of events then set off, leading Lamego, a former CTO of Cercacor Laboratories (a Masimo sister company), to join Apple. His mission: to contribute to the development ...