In a recent win for Apple, US appeals court has temporarily halted a government commission’s ban on certain Apple smartwatches, following a patent dispute with medical-tech firm Masimo.
Apple urgently sought the court’s intervention after the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Masimo’s patent infringement claims. Despite the Biden administration allowing the ban to proceed, Apple managed to pause it through an emergency request.
Masimo accuses Apple of employee poaching and incorporating its pulse oximetry technology into Apple Watches.
The ITC’s ban specifically targets Apple Watches featuring blood-oxygen level reading technology, prompting Apple to halt sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US
Interestingly, this ban doesn’t impact the Apple Watch SE or previously sold watches. Apple, in turn, claims Masimo’s legal actions are a strategic move to pave the way for its own smartwatch. Despite these legal battles, Apple’s wearables business, including the Apple Watch, continues to thrive, generating $8.28 billion in revenue during Q3 2023.
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