A federal appeals court has affirmed a 2024 ruling that Apple’s modifications to the Apple Watch heart‑rate algorithms were lawful product improvements, not anticompetitive conduct. The Ninth Circuit rejected AliveCor’s claim that Apple’s switch from the Heart Rate during Physical Observation (HRPO) algorithm to a neural‑network based HRNN algorithm in watchOS 5 deliberately disabled the KardiaBand’s ability to detect irregular rhythms. The court emphasized that Apple’s refusal to share proprietary HRPO data does not violate antitrust law and noted that developers already receive the same Tachogram API data used by Apple’s Irregular Rhythm Notification feature.

By stating that antitrust statutes impose no duty for companies to supply rivals with proprietary data, the decision reinforces Apple’s right to control its health‑monitoring technology and encourages continued innovation. This ruling follows a prior Federal Circuit decision that invalidated three AliveCor patents, averting a potential Apple Watch import ban. Together, the judgments solidify legal precedent for technology firms managing core health data, shape the competitive landscape for wearable health apps, and signal limited judicial intervention in product design choices.