Apple is set to resume the sale of its Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 on Thursday (US time) after temporarily removing the blood oxygen feature due to an ongoing patent infringement dispute. The watches, now without the blood oxygen functionality, will be reintroduced and made available on Apple’s official website and in its retail stores, according to reports by The Verge.
Starting from 6 am PT on January 18, customers can purchase the revised Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen feature. The decision to remove this feature comes as a response to a patent infringement claim, and Apple emphasises that previously sold watches with the blood oxygen feature will not be affected.
An Apple spokesperson stated, “Apple’s appeal is ongoing, and we believe the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should reverse the USITC’s decision. We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting orders.” The company is taking measures to comply with the ruling while ensuring minimal disruption for customers during the appeal process.
The conflict stems from a previous ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC), which banned the sale of the new Apple watches in the US, asserting that the blood oxygen sensors infringed on patents held by healthcare company Masimo. Despite Apple’s efforts to secure an extension on the ban, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied prolonging the interim stay on the Apple Watch ban. The situation continues to evolve as the legal proceedings unfold.
Why was Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sale banned in US ?
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 faced a sales ban in the US due to a patent dispute with medical tech company Masimo. Masimo claimed Apple violated its blood-oxygen tracking patents, leading to a ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in October 2023. Apple appealed, and in December 2023, the US Court of Appeals temporarily lifted the ban.
However, on January 18, 2024, the court decided to reinstate the ban until Apple’s appeal is resolved. In response, Apple opted to remove the blood oxygen tracking feature from these models to continue selling them. The legal battle may last a year, and analysts predicted Apple would compromise on the feature rather than withdraw from one of its major markets. It’s important to note that existing Apple Watches and devices sold outside the US remain unaffected by these court orders.
Source: India Today
