The complaint also alleged that Apple “updated” its heart rate algorithm for its watches to prevent third parties from detecting irregular heartbeats and providing competing apps
Apple convinced a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a Silicon Valley startup alleging that it unlawfully monopolized the U.S. market for heart rate monitoring apps for its Apple Watch. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, ruled on Tuesday against AliveCor, which had created an app for detecting irregular heartbeats. The lawsuit accused Apple of violating the federal Sherman Antitrust Act and a California unfair competition law.
The rationale behind White’s decision is temporarily sealed due to confidentiality concerns.
“AliveCor is deeply disappointed and strongly disagrees with the court’s decision to dismiss our anticompetition case, and we plan to appeal,” the company stated.
In a statement, Apple remarked that the lawsuit contested its capacity to enhance the Apple Watch, which consumers and developers depend on. “Today’s outcome confirms that this is not anticompetitive,” it stated.
In a revised complaint, AliveCor alleged that Apple had initially indicated a willingness to collaborate on heart-monitoring technology for the Apple Watch, but later replicated its concepts and launched a “focused campaign to dominate the market for heart rate analysis.”
The complaint also accused Apple of “updating” the heart rate algorithm for its watches to hinder third parties from detecting irregular heartbeats and creating competing apps.
AliveCor created KardiaBand, a wristband for the Apple Watch capable of recording an electrocardiogram (ECG).
The company, headquartered in Mountain View, California, also developed the Kardia app for analyzing ECG readings on Apple Watches, as well as a SmartRhythm heart rate analysis app powered by artificial intelligence.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has denied any wrongdoing and stated that competitors do not have the right to dictate its design decisions.
AliveCor is still pursuing separate patent infringement claims against Apple.
The case is AliveCor Inc v Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 21-03958.