Apple Faces Ban on Smartwatches
TECH DIGEST- The US Commission on International Trade ruled in favour of Masimo in a patent dispute with Apple, resulting in a ban on the direct sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the United States. Despite Apple’s plans to appeal the decision, the ban is set to take effect, leaving the company with the possibility of a presidential veto as its only recourse.
The ban on online sales of the affected Apple smartwatch models becomes effective immediately, while the ban in Apple’s offline stores in the US will take effect on December 24th. Additionally, the prohibition on importing these watches, assembled outside the United States, will be implemented on December 26th. Third-party sellers will be allowed to sell existing inventory until it is depleted, and Apple customer service representatives are restricted from directing unsuccessful buyers to alternative retail sources.
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Apple had initially hoped to delay the enforcement of the ban during the appeal process, but the US Commission on International Trade rejected the appeal. The US President has until December 25th to potentially veto the initial ban, providing Apple with a window of opportunity to continue selling the contested Watch models through its retail network in the US.
Masimo, the company that initiated the legal action against Apple in 2021, accuses Apple of infringing on its developments related to a sensor enabling the optical determination of blood oxygen content. Masimo also alleges that Apple has shown reluctance to reach a settlement agreement that would benefit consumers.
The legal battle intensified when Apple, initially expressing interest in acquiring or collaborating with Masimo, allegedly lured over two dozen engineers from the company. According to Masimo’s management, these engineers played a role in developing a profile sensor for smartwatches. In response, Apple filed two counterclaims against Masimo last October, accusing the company of copying features from the Apple Watch.
As the ban takes effect, Apple is left navigating legal challenges and the possibility of a presidential intervention, highlighting the complexity of intellectual property disputes in the competitive landscape of smartwatch technology.
