A prohibition on the sale of specific Apple smartwatch models went into effect in the United States as the Biden administration chose not to overrule a ruling regarding patent violations. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) had earlier decided to ban certain Apple Watch models due to patent infringement related to technology for detecting blood-oxygen levels.
Apple contests the ITC’s decision, arguing for its reversal. However, in a move last week, the company halted the sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US.
The impact was swift, commencing online on December 21 through the Apple Store and ceasing retail sales by December 24, just before the holiday season.
This ban originated from a complaint filed by Masimo Corp with the ITC in mid-2021, accusing Apple of infringing on “light-based oximetry functionality.” Masimo claims ownership of the technology and alleges that Apple recruited its employees to gain access to this knowledge.
Following deliberations, Ambassador Katherine Tai decided against reversing the ITC’s determination, solidifying the decision on December 26, 2023.
While the US president holds authority to overturn import bans, such actions are rare. Apple, known for enhancing fitness and health features with each Apple Watch iteration, is now striving to restore sales of the affected models in the US.
The tech giant strongly opposes the exclusion order and is working to swiftly reintroduce Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to US customers. This dispute stems from Masimo’s accusations against Apple, which, in turn, has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Masimo.
Amidst ongoing legal battles, Masimo recently gained approval from US regulators to use its wrist-worn product for prescription and over-the-counter purposes. Apple contends that Masimo is leveraging litigation to pave the way for its own watch-inspired products.
