AliveCor filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of anti-competitive behavior by changing the Apple Watch's heart rate algorithm, but ultimately lost the case.In recent years, Apple has faced multiple lawsuits surrounding its Apple Watch technology, with AliveCor targeting patent and antitrust laws. Patent litigation over electrocardiogram technology is still ongoing, but a judge ruled in favor of Apple in the antitrust case.

In a statement shared with 9to5Mac, an Apple spokesperson described the outcome of the antitrust case. Apple won't have to go through a full trial to determine whether the antitrust charges are true.

"At Apple, our teams continue to innovate and create products and services that provide users with health, wellness and life-saving features. AliveCor's lawsuit challenged Apple's ability to improve the important functionality of Apple Watch, which consumers and developers alike rely on, and today's results confirm that this is not anticompetitive conduct. We appreciate the court's careful consideration of this case and will continue to protect the innovation we advance on behalf of our clients from unwarranted claims."

The lawsuit focuses on Apple's updated algorithm for collecting heart rate data in watchOS5. It changes from a heart rate path optimization algorithm to a heart rate neural network algorithm.

AliveCor claims that the algorithm changes made its SmartRhythm feature worse and wants Apple to make the original algorithm available to developers. Apple said the new algorithm was more accurate and rejected the request, prompting the lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Jeffery White issued summary judgment in favor of Apple. However, details of the verdict will not be released until later.