In a recent twist to the ongoing patent infringement case, Apple is compelled to halt sales of its two latest Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2. The ban, initially imposed in December, was temporarily lifted but has been reinstated, preventing the sale of watches equipped with disputed blood oxygen technology in the US.
The US International Trade Commission had issued an import ban in October, asserting that Apple had violated patents related to pulse oximetry technology owned by Masimo, a medical device manufacturer. Consequently, Apple is now barred from importing and selling its newest Apple Watch models in the US.
In response to this legal setback, Apple has swiftly announced the release of modified versions of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 without the contentious blood oxygen features. These revised models are set to go on sale on Thursday, January 18th, in an effort to comply with the import ban.
While Apple is actively seeking a resolution to the dispute and exploring ways to avoid the sales ban, the process is anticipated to be protracted. The tech giant’s quick adaptation underscores the challenges posed by patent disputes in the dynamic landscape of wearable technology, leaving consumers and industry observers awaiting the ultimate resolution of this legal saga.