In a significant development in the ongoing patent dispute, a federal appeals court has refused to grant Apple’s request to temporarily halt a ban on importing advanced models of the Apple Watch. The ban is set to be reinstated on Thursday, affecting the availability of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States.
The ban originated from a ruling by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) last October, which determined that certain features in these Apple Watch models, specifically the pulse oximeter function, violated a patent owned by California-based company Masimo.
Apple had sought a stay on the ban while their appeal against the ITC decision was in progress. However, Wednesday’s court filing confirmed that the ban will remain in effect throughout the appeal process, which is expected to take several months.
Apple did receive some relief in the form of approval from US Customs and Border Protection to continue importing a redesigned version of their most advanced Apple Watches. These redesigned watches, lacking the pulse oximeter function, will be available for purchase both in stores and online starting Thursday. Customers will still see the Blood Oxygen icon on these watches, but clicking it will reveal that the feature is “no longer available.”
It’s worth noting that customers who have previously purchased an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 with the pulse oximeter feature will not be affected by this change.
Apple, in response to the latest ruling, expressed their ongoing commitment to the appeal process, stating that they believe the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should overturn the ITC’s decision. The company continues to strongly disagree with the ITC’s ruling and the resulting ban.
On the other side of the dispute, Masimo’s CEO, Joe Kiani, expressed satisfaction with the decision to end the temporary pause on the ban.
The legal battle between Apple and Masimo has drawn attention due to its potential implications for patent rights and intellectual property in the technology industry. As both companies continue to defend their positions, consumers will be closely watching how this dispute evolves and how it may impact the future of wearable technology.
With the import ban on advanced Apple Watch models set to resume, Apple faces challenges in maintaining its product lineup and meeting consumer demand while the legal proceedings unfold.
