- Apple is currently facing a patent battle over the blood oxygen feature.
- It has been accused of infringing on medical company Masimo’s patent.
- Apple introduced the blood-oxygen feature in 2020 with the Apple Watch Series 6.
Apple is pausing sales for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US due to a patent dispute with medical tech company Masimo. This dispute is related to the blood oxygen sensing feature on these devices. So customers in the US won’t be able to buy the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s online store and retail stores. This doesn’t affect sales for the two devices in other countries.
Why Apple Watch Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 sales have been paused in the US
- Apple was found violating Masimo’s patents related to the blood oxygen sensing feature, according to a report by 9to5Mac. Post this, the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the US ordered a ban on imports of some Apple Watch models.
- The iPhone maker, however, denies all accusations, saying that it “strongly disagrees”, and is working on a way to resume sales for the Apple Watches.
- The order is now under review by US President Joe Biden until December 25th, and Apple also plans to appeal the ITC’s order on December 26th if required.
- Apple’s battle with Masimo has been going on since 2020 with the medical company accusing the latter of stealing its trade secrets to develop the blood oxygen feature. This was launched on the Apple Watch 6 in 2020.
- Earlier this year in January, Apple got a court order from the ITC that it had infringed on Masimo’s patent for its feature to monitor blood-oxygen levels on Apple Watch users.
- We should get more clarity by next week on whether Apple will be able to get out of this, and resume its Watch sales in the US.
In another but related news, one of Apple’s oldest industrial designer whose name is listed on over 1,000 patents, quit the company. Apple’s senior designer Peter Russell-Clarke has been with Apple for almost 20 years, and involved in the design of the iMac, iPod Nano, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. Russell-Clarke was also part of designing several iPhone and iPad models as well as Apple’s headquarters and retail stores.
