The decision of the International Trade Commission (ITC) has resulted in a ban on the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the USA, which will take effect on December 26th. ITC ruled that Apple infringed on a patent for blood oxygen level measurement technology owned by Masimo, a company specializing in medical devices.
As a result of the ITC’s decision, Apple quickly removed both devices from its website on December 21st and from physical stores after December 24th. Despite attempts to block the decision during the appeals process, the ITC rejected the request, and President Joe Biden also refused to veto the ban.
However, it is important to note that this ban only applies to Apple stores in the USA. Customers can still purchase the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 from other retail stores such as Best Buy and Target, until supplies are depleted. It is also worth noting that the ban does not affect the sale of the Watch SE, as it does not have a blood oxygen level sensor.
As for Apple’s next steps, there are several possibilities. One solution could be to make changes to the blood oxygen level sensor software in both watches or disable the sensor in imported devices. However, it is unclear whether these changes would meet the ITC’s requirements. Another solution could be for Apple to reach a settlement with Masimo to resolve the patent infringement issue.
The ban imposed on Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 poses significant challenges for the tech giant. Nevertheless, Apple has various options to address this situation and find a resolution that allows them to continue offering their products to customers.
The source of the article is from the blog yanoticias.es