In a significant setback in a patent lawsuit battle, tech giant Apple has failed to overturn the U.S. ban on its latest Apple Watch models. In October, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that the blood oxygen monitoring technology in Apple's latest smartwatches infringed on patents held by health technology company Masimo.
After a 60-day presidential review period, the United States Trade Representative's office announced on Tuesday that it had decided to uphold the ITC's ruling. As a result, Apple is prohibited from selling its latest smartwatch models, the S9 and Ultra 2, in the United States.
Masimo heralded the ITC's decision as an important moment for the U.S. in defending innovation and protecting the rights of inventors. Apple, in court filings submitted on Tuesday, argued that continued enforcement of the ban would cause the company "irreparable harm," as it affects its two most popular smartwatch models.
Before the Biden administration made its final decision, Apple had preemptively halted sales of the newest smartwatches. However, the company expressed its disagreement with the ITC's decision and the ensuing ban in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that it has appealed the patent dispute with Masimo:
"We strongly oppose the decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission and the subsequent ban, and are taking all steps to have the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 return to the U.S. market as soon as possible."
The Trade Representative's office's decision to uphold the original ruling wasn't unexpected, as it's rare in U.S. history for the White House to intervene in patent disputes between commercial companies.
The domestic ban on its latest smart hardware represents a significant blow to Apple, especially during the crucial holiday sales season. However, the ITC's ban will only affect the sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which feature the blood oxygen monitoring capability. Older Apple Watch models are unaffected, and Apple also stated that the ban would not impact customers who have already purchased the S9 and Ultra 2.
Apple's patent dispute with Masimo has been long-standing, revolving around a technology that measures blood oxygen levels by shining light on the wrist. Apple first introduced this technology in 2020 to entice more consumers to upgrade their devices.
However, Masimo claims Apple copied its patented technology. In October of this year, the ITC made a ruling in favor of Masimo, prohibiting Apple from selling the affected models in the U.S. and banning all imports of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 into the country.
