If you have been keeping up with the news, you might be aware that Apple is banned from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US. This is because of the patent infringement case slapped on the company by health tech brand Masimo. Now, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been granted a temporary pause on the ban of the sale of smartwatches by a US Court of Appeals. 

Apple Watch sales ban lifted for a temporary period

The US Court of Appeals court has issued a pause on the temporary ban on the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2. Apple had made an emergency filing to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the order issued by the US International Trade Commission. The ITC had declared that Apple violated patents related to pulse oximetery technology of medical tech company Masimo. This has been found on Apple Watch Series 6 models and later. However, only the latest-generation Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are affected due to the patent infringement dispute.

The interim stay of ITC’s decision will help Apple to navigate the legal process and find a solution. The company will start selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US starting today across both online and offline channels. The temporary lift on the ban on sales is expected to last until mid-January. This will also help Apple to get through the holiday season. 

Additionally, US Customs is also expected to take a decision on the sale and import ban of the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models by January 12. Apple is working on overcoming the patent dispute with a software fix. 

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Apple was at the wrong end of a patent ruling by the US International Trade Commission in December 2021 where it determined that Apple Watch’s electrocardiogram function infringed on AliveCor’s patent. The ITC had imposed a Limited Exclusion Order (LEO) and a cease and desist order on Apple Watches infringing on AliveCor patents. However, the ruling had to be reviewed by the US president. A press release by AliveCor indicates that the ruling has now cleared the Presidential review.

As a reminder, the ITC ruling found that Apple’s Watch Series 4 and later models infringed on AliveCor’s electrocardiogram technology patents. Apple’s electrocardiogram feature allows users to take an ECG reading with their Apple Watch by placing their finger on the watch’s digital crown for 30 seconds. This feature is available on the Watch Series 4 and later models.

According to reports, the ban on the importation of infringing Apple Watches could have a significant impact on Apple’s bottom line, as the company sells millions of watches in the United States each year. If the ban goes into effect, Apple would likely have to redesign its Apple Watch or find a way to license the technology from AliveCor.

It is not yet clear whether Apple plans to appeal the ITC’s ruling or if the company has any plans to license the technology from AliveCor. However, the potential ban on the importation of infringing Apple Watches highlights the importance of intellectual property protection in the technology industry.

Patent infringement lawsuits are not uncommon in the technology industry, and companies often go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for other companies in the industry that use similar technology in their products.

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The post Apple Watch Faces Potential Ban as Biden Okays ITC Ruling on AliveCor’s Electrocardiogram Patent Infringement appeared first on Gizmochina.