Apple Inc. has won a legal reprieve as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit temporarily suspended an import ban on some of its smartwatches.
The decision follows a contentious patent infringement case with medical technology company Masimo. The appeal was made after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Apple had violated Masimo’s patents, leading to the initial ban.
Masimo has alleged that Apple infringed on its pulse oximetry technology, leading to the ITC’s decision to ban imports and sales of specific Apple Watch models equipped with blood-oxygen level reading technology. This technology is a feature in Apple’s smartwatches, starting from the Series 6 model, which was introduced in 2020.
Consequently, Apple halted sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the U.S., although these products remained available through other retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart. The ban does not impact the Apple Watch SE model, which lacks the pulse oximeter feature, and previously sold watches.
Read: U.S. Bans Imports of Apple Watch Models Following Masimo Patent Dispute
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Apple’s Business
The legal dispute extends beyond the ITC ruling. A jury trial in California federal court addressing Masimo’s allegations against Apple concluded with a mistrial in May. Apple has also filed a separate patent infringement lawsuit against Masimo in Delaware.
Apple asserts that Masimo’s legal actions are strategically aimed at promoting its competing smartwatch. Despite these legal challenges, Apple’s wearables, home, and accessory business, including the Apple Watch and AirPods, generated substantial revenue of $8.28 billion in the third quarter of 2023, underscoring the significant market impact of these products.
