In a significant legal victory, Apple has resumed the sales of its smartwatches in the United States after a US appeals court lifted a government commission’s import ban. This decision comes amid a patent dispute between Apple and medical-technology firm Masimo. The tech giant urgently sought the suspension of the order from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, challenging the US International Trade Commission’s ruling that Apple had violated Masimo’s patents.
Masimo has accused Apple of recruiting its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology, and integrating it into Apple Watches. As a result, the ITC’s ruling prohibited the import and sale of Apple Watches equipped with technology for blood-oxygen level readings. Notably, Apple introduced the pulse oximeter feature in its watches from the Series 6 model onwards in 2020.
Consequently, Apple temporarily halted the sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US. However, customers can still purchase these watches from other retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart. The ban does not impact the Apple Watch SE, a more affordable model without a pulse oximeter, and previously sold watches are also unaffected.
Both Apple and Masimo representatives have not provided immediate comments on the matter. A jury trial in California federal court addressing Masimo’s allegations against Apple resulted in a mistrial in May. Meanwhile, Apple has countered by filing a separate lawsuit against Masimo for patent infringement in a federal court in Delaware, claiming that Masimo’s legal actions are strategically aimed at enabling its own competing smartwatch.
For Apple, its wearables, home, and accessory business, including the Apple Watch, AirPods earbuds, and other products, generated $8.28 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2023, as outlined in a company report.
This legal victory for Apple allows the company to resume the sale of certain smartwatches in the US market. However, the ongoing patent dispute with Masimo highlights the challenges faced by tech giants in navigating intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving wearable technology sector. The outcome of the lawsuit and its potential implications for both Apple and Masimo will be closely watched by industry experts and consumers alike.
As Apple’s products continue to captivate consumers globally, it remains to be seen how this legal battle will impact the innovative capabilities and competitive landscape of the smartwatch market.
