Apple defeats AliveCor antitrust lawsuit over smartwatch technology

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled in favor of Apple and against AliveCor in a lawsuit over the development of smartwatch technology to detect irregular heartbeats.

Silicon Valley startup AliveCor has accused the Cupertino giant of illegally monopolizing the U.S. market for heart rate monitoring apps for its Apple Watch and violating the federal Sherman Antitrust Act and a California unfair competition law (via Reuters).

Apple convinced the federal judge to dismiss the AliveCor lawsuit, but the ruling explaining White's reasoning is currently being kept under seal for privacy reasons.

“AliveCor is deeply disappointed and strongly disagrees with the court’s decision to dismiss our anticompetitive case and we plan to appeal,” the Silicon Valley startup said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Apple said the lawsuit calls into question its ability to make improvements to the Apple Watch that consumers and developers rely on: “Today's outcome confirms that it is not anti-competitive,” the tech giant said.

In an amended complaint, AliveCor said Apple led it to believe it would collaborate on heart monitoring technology for the Apple Watch, only to copy its ideas and embark on a “concentrated campaign to corner the market.” of heart rate analysis”.

The complaint also accuses Apple of “updating” the heart rate algorithm in its watches, to prevent third parties from identifying irregular heartbeats and offering competing apps.
AliveCor had developed KardiaBand, a bracelet for Apple Watch capable of recording an electrocardiogram, or ECG.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has denied any wrongdoing.

AliveCor is still fighting Apple in separate patent infringement claims.