In a shocking turn of events, Apple has been hit with a patent infringement case that has led to a ban on the sale of their latest Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2. The ban was imposed by the US International Trade Commission, who ruled that Apple had infringed on patents for pulse oximetry technology made by medical device maker Masimo. As a result, Apple has halted online sales and will soon remove the watches from physical store shelves. While the company is working to find a solution, this dispute may take some time to resolve. If you’re curious to learn more about Apple’s legal battle, keep reading.
Apple Watch Ban
An import ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has led Apple to halt the online sales of its two most recent Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2. This decision came in response to the ruling by the ITC in October that Apple had infringed on patents for pulse oximetry technology owned by Masimo, a medical device maker. As a result, Apple is no longer able to import and sell these models in the US, leading to the removal of the devices from the online store and the upcoming disappearance from physical Apple Store shelves.
Effects of the Ban
The Apple Watch ban has several immediate consequences, one of which is the unavailability of repairs for several Apple Watch models. According to reports, out-of-warranty hardware repairs and whole unit replacements for the Apple Watch Series 6 onwards (excluding the SE) are now unavailable during the duration of the ban. This means that customers with affected devices will need to be extra cautious with their smartwatches. However, products that are still under warranty or covered by AppleCare Plus are not affected by the ban. Apple has assured customers that they will be notified when hardware replacements are permitted.
Apple’s Response
In response to the ban, Apple has taken steps to comply with the import restrictions. The online sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 have been pulled from the Apple website, and these devices will also be removed from Apple Stores in the near future. The company is actively exploring ways to avoid the ban, including making software changes to address the patent infringement concerns. It remains to be seen if these efforts will be successful in overturning the ban or minimizing its impact on Apple’s business.
The Patent Dispute with Masimo
The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo revolves around the infringement of Masimo’s patents for pulse oximetry technology. The ITC ruled in favor of Masimo, stating that Apple’s use of the SpO2 sensor in its smartwatches infringes upon these patents. Apple’s motion to stay the ban while awaiting an appeal was denied, and the import ban is set to take effect on December 26th. Apple is considering an appeal and has also expressed plans to implement software changes as a potential solution to the ban.
Opinions and Perspectives on the Ban
The Biden administration is actively tracking the Apple Watch ban case, with the US Trade Representative expected to make a decision on whether to block the ban. However, Apple’s chances of escaping the ban are considered slim by experts, including the CEO of Masimo. He doubts that Apple’s software changes will be sufficient to resolve the patent infringement issues, emphasizing that the patents are related to the hardware rather than the software. Considering the nature of the ruling and the potential limitations of software changes, it is widely believed that Apple will struggle to avoid the ban entirely.
Background on the Ban
The ban stemmed from the ruling by the ITC that Apple had infringed on Masimo’s patents for pulse oximetry technology. As a result, the ITC imposed an import ban specifically targeted at the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The ban only affects the sales of these models within the US, allowing them to still be available for sale abroad. In compliance with the ban, Apple made the preemptive decision to pull these models from its online store and will be removing them from physical Apple Stores as well.
Conclusion
The current status of the Apple Watch ban indicates that repairs for affected models are unavailable, and Apple has taken steps to comply with the ban by removing the devices from its online store and physical stores. The company is actively exploring software changes to potentially address the patent infringement concerns and avoid the ban. However, the outlook for Apple escaping the ban is uncertain, with skeptics doubting the effectiveness of software changes and experts considering it unlikely for Apple to evade the ban entirely. The ongoing legal battle and possible future developments will continue to impact Apple and its consumers, warranting attention and interest in the resolution of this case.
