ITC Rules Against Apple in Patent Dispute Affecting Apple Watch Sales

Following a patent infringement lawsuit by medical technology company Masimo, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has ordered a stop to the sales of certain Apple Watch models in the United States. As a result of the ruling regarding Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensor, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sales will be halted, impacting the holiday shopping season. Apple attempted to delay the ban pending an appeal, but this motion was recently denied.

Summary: As the dispute over intellectual property rights to the blood oxygen monitoring technology in the Apple Watch continues, the ITC has decided against Apple. Sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will cease in the US, and the tech giant has taken steps to comply with the ban. The embargo will affect several sales channels, including Apple’s online store and its retail outlets.

Apple voiced its compliance plans, acknowledging the ongoing review by the President but preparing to halt sales of the specific watch models by late December. Apple Watch models without the contentious blood oxygen feature, such as the Apple Watch SE, will remain available for purchase.

Masimo’s lawsuit, initiated in 2021, claimed that Apple had infringed on patents associated with their blood-oxygen monitoring technology. The case’s implications extend to other models as well, but Apple assures that existing owners can still use the feature on their devices. Meanwhile, Apple has counter-sued Masimo, accusing their smartwatches of mimicking Apple Watch functions. This legal battle reflects a growing trend of patent disputes as tech companies vie to protect their innovations.

Source: ts2.space - Iwona Majkowska

Editor: IPR Daily-Horace