Sales Halt Details and Background on Apple vs Masimo Dispute
Also read: Masimo CEO on Apple patent dispute
In a surprising move, Apple has announced a temporary halt in the sales of its flagship wearables, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, in the United States. The decision is a response to an ongoing patent infringement battle with medical tech company Masimo.
When Will Apple Watch Sales Be Paused in the US?
The sales pause for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will take effect online until December 21 at 12:00 PM PT, and in-store until December 24. This preemptive measure is in compliance with the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ruling on a technical intellectual property dispute related to the Blood Oxygen feature.
Apple vs Masimo Court Battle
The legal dispute between Apple and Masimo spans three years, with Masimo accusing Apple of stealing trade secrets and infringing on 10 patents related to its blood oxygen monitoring feature. The court ruled in Masimo’s favor, and the ITC issued an order that could lead to an import ban on Apple Watches. The 60-day presidential review is ongoing, with President Biden expected to make a decision by December 25. If the ruling stands, it could impact the sale and import of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S.
Also read: Google working on an AI assistant that could answer ‘impossible’ questions about you
