Apple recently obtained a temporary suspension of the US government’s import ban on specific models of Apple smartwatches. The suspension was granted after a patent dispute with the technology company Masimo. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) had previously ruled in favor of Masimo, stating that Apple had infringed on its patents. Apple acted quickly by filing a request for an injunction. Although the Biden administration could have vetoed the ban, it chose not to intervene, resulting in the ban taking effect on December 26. However, on the same day, Apple requested a suspension of the ban, which was granted by the US Court of Appeals.
Masimo accused Apple of poaching its employees and incorporating its blood oxygen saturation measurement technology into Apple Watch. The ITC decision resulted in an import and sales ban on Apple Watch equipped with the blood oxygen level measurement technology, starting from the Series 6 model introduced in 2020. As a result, Apple temporarily halted the sale of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the United States. However, these models can still be purchased from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart. It is worth noting that this ban does not apply to the Apple Watch SE, a more affordable model without a pulse oximeter. Furthermore, previously sold watches are exempt from the ban.
The legal dispute between Apple and Masimo goes beyond the ITC decision. In May, a lawsuit filed by Masimo against Apple in a federal court in California ended in acquittal. Meanwhile, Apple filed a separate lawsuit against Masimo in a federal court in Delaware, accusing it of patent infringement. Apple claims that Masimo’s legal actions are a strategy aimed at facilitating the introduction of its own competitive watch into the market.
This ongoing legal dispute sheds light on the complex nature of patent disputes in the technology industry.
FAQ:
- Which models of Apple watches are subject to the import ban?
- Does the import ban affect access to all models of Apple watches in the United States?
- Where else can the models of Apple watches subject to the ban be purchased?
The import ban applies to Apple Watch models equipped with blood oxygen level measurement technology, starting from the Series 6 model.
No, the import ban only applies to the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models, while the Apple Watch SE is not affected by the ban.
The Series 9 and Ultra 2 models can still be purchased from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart.
Definitions:
– Patent: a protective right granted to inventors, allowing exclusive use of the invention.
– ITC: International Trade Commission – a US government organization responsible for resolving trade disputes.
The source of the article is from the blog smartphonemagazine.nl