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Apple Watch Victory: Import Ban Overturned
18 Apr
Summary
- ITC ruled against reinstating import ban on Apple Watches.
- Redesigned blood-oxygen monitoring technology is now permitted.
- Masimo may appeal the decision to the US Court of Appeals.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has delivered a major victory to Apple, deciding not to reinstate an import ban on its popular smartwatches. This ruling permits Apple to continue selling its devices, which now feature a reworked blood-oxygen monitoring technology.
The federal agency terminated the case following a preliminary ruling from March. This ruling stated that Apple's redesigned smartwatches did not infringe upon patents held by Masimo, a medical technology company engaged in a prolonged legal conflict with Apple.
The dispute originated in 2021 with Masimo's initial filing. An earlier ITC decision had found Apple in violation of Masimo's patents, leading to a previous import ban and prompting Apple to modify the blood-oxygen feature on certain models.
Despite this latest setback, Masimo is exploring its options and may appeal the ITC's decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This legal battle is separate from a November ruling where a federal jury found Apple liable for patent infringement, ordering it to pay $634 million.
