Apple prepares temporary halt to sales of Series 9, Ultra 2 watches starting this week amidst Masimo patent dispute.
Apple said it would temporarily halt sales of its latest Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US starting this week in order to comply with a legal order in a patent dispute over blood oxygen monitor technology.
The US International Trade Commission in October ordered Apple to stop selling the models, which were introduced alongside the latest iPhone 15 range in September, after finding they violated patents held by medical technology company Masimo.
The order is subject to a 60-day presidential review period, expiring on 25 December, during which the administration can decide whether or not to veto it, but Apple said it is taking steps toward compliance now in case the ruling should stand.
Such vetos are rare, but Apple benefited from the last one in 2013 when Barack Obama vetoed an ITC ruling blocking the import of iPhone 4 and certain iPad models in a dispute with Samsung Electronics.
Other models that do not include the disputed blood oxygen Sp02 sensor, such as the lower-priced Apple Watch SE, also introduced in September, are not affected by the sales ban.
Apple also continues to sell the older Series 8 line of smartwatches which do not include the device.
The Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches would also remain available outside the US during the holiday season, including the Asian Lunar New Year season which in 2024 falls in early February.
The company has accused Apple of hiring away its staff and stealing its technology for the Apple Watch, while Apple has countersued Masimo accusing the firm of legal manoeuvres aimed at clearing a path for a competing device.
A jury trial on Masimo's allegations in a California federal court ended in a mistrial in May. Advertising.
This Cyber News was published on www.silicon.co.uk. Publication date: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:13:05 +0000