Starting Thursday, Apple Watch users will no longer have access to a popular health app that measures blood oxygen levels. This change comes as a result of a recent court ruling in a patent case. Although customers can still see Apple’s Blood Oxygen app on their devices, they will receive a message stating that the feature is no longer available when they try to access it.
The decision to remove this health feature comes after Apple lost a patent case against medical technology company Masimo. Masimo accused Apple of infringing on its patent for a blood oxygen sensor that can read someone’s pulse. The U.S. International Trade Commission determined that certain Apple Watches violated Masimo’s patents and issued a ban on importing watches with the technology.
Apple has been appealing the case and seeking a reversal of the trade commission’s decision through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. However, on Wednesday, the appeals court reinstated the ban on the feature after temporarily granting Apple’s request to pause it in December. Instead of completely banning the watches, the court allowed Apple to continue selling them as long as the technology at the heart of the patent dispute was removed.
Masimo’s CEO expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it reinforces the importance of respecting intellectual rights and holding companies accountable for patent infringement. Apple continues to assert that it has not infringed on any patents.
It’s worth noting that Apple has clarified that there will be no impact on previously purchased Apple Watch units that include the Blood Oxygen feature. This move to remove the health app has potential ramifications for the tech giant, as the Apple Watch is the best-selling product in its wearables category, which earned nearly $40 billion in revenue last fiscal year.
In conclusion, Apple Watch users will no longer have access to the blood oxygen level measurement feature due to a court ruling in a patent case. Apple lost the case against Masimo, which accused the tech giant of patent infringement. Despite Apple’s ongoing appeals, the court has reinstated the ban on the feature. This development could have implications for Apple’s wearables category, which has experienced significant success in recent years.
