“If I can stop the most powerful company in the world from continuing to do bad things, that will have more impact on the world than anything else I do.”» These are the words ofJoe Kiani, boss ofFields, the company that sells smart medical devices, in an interview withWall Street Journal.
The latter is, as a reminder, engaged in an unprecedented fight against the Apple firm. The legal conflict between the two smartwatch manufacturers began in 2020, and has already costFieldsalmost 100 million dollars. In order to have a more precise idea of what this figure represents, it is good to note that the company's profit in 2022 amounted to$144 million.
Fieldssuccessively wonseveral battlesand managed to doban two Apple Watch models from salein the United States, but the latter did not last very long. It took effect on December 25, but after three days of being sidelined,the Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 have returned to US stores. This is thanks to the court of appeal which chose to lift the ban.
Despite everything, theITC, who initiated the decision,must deliver a new verdict on January 10, date on whicha second ban could be put in place.
Unconscious or bold?
Joe Kiani doesn't get his motivation from nowhere. He accuses the firm of having stolen his technological patents, as well as employees, then of having marketed his technology against his will.This is the oximeter technology found on some Apple Watches.
When he decided to attack Apple, Joe's friends advised him against it, telling him he was crazy, adding that "Apple has unlimited resources". But after having already won certain deals of the same type, the entrepreneur does not see things the same way.
Masimo has already received almost two billion in similar cases
Upon learning of Joe Kiani's legal liabilities withFields, we better understand his determination against Cupertino. In 2006 and 2016, he won two similar disputes. The first facingNellcor, the second againstRoyal Philips. The one againstNellcorallowed him to pocket 800 million dollarsin damages, while the second allowed him to pocket 300 million, then more than a billion, thanks to a licensing agreement.
Is he banking everything on the licensing agreement?
The boss ofFields wishes to enter into negotiations with Appleto find an agreement, but the firm does not respond to his requests. In view of the outcome of the previous trials, it seems that Joe Kiani has every interest in reaching an agreement with Apple to receive a commission on the sales of Watches equipped with its technology. Which Cupertino seems to want to avoid at all costs.
The rest on January 10, in the meantime, happy new years to all!
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By : Keleops AG
