Apple pauses US sales of certain Apple Watch models over patent dispute
Due to a patent dispute, Apple will soon be suspending sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States.
Medical firm Masimo first filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2020, alleging that Apple had infringed on 10 of the medical firm’s patents, including those that covered ways to measure oxygen levels in blood and heart rate sensors using light emitters and detectors.
In early 2023, a judge ruled that Apple had indeed infringed on one of Masimo’s pulse oximeter patents, leading to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issuing an order to ban Apple from selling Apple Watch products that utilised the technology in question. However, the ruling is under review by U.S. President Joe Biden, with a decision expected to be made by 25 December 2023.
A Presidential Review Period is in progress regarding an order from the US International Trade Commission on a technical intellectual property dispute pertaining to Apple Watch devices containing the Blood Oxygen feature. While the review period will not end until December 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand. This includes pausing sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple.com starting December 21, and from Apple retail locations after December 24," said Apple to Engadget.
The Apple Watch SE is not subject to the ban as it does not have a blood oxygen sensor, and older Apple Watch models with blood oxygen sensors are also not included in the ban. All Apple watches will remain available for purchase outside of the U.S.
The clock is ticking for consumers in the United States looking to purchase an Apple Watch.
Source: Engadget, Reuters 1, 2, 3
< PrevPage 1 of 1 – Apple pauses US sales of certain Apple Watch models over patent disputePage 1 of 1 – Apple pauses US sales of certain Apple Watch models over patent disputePage 1 of 1 Page 1 of 1 – Apple pauses US sales of certain Apple Watch models over patent disputeNext >