In a dramatic turn of events for Apple Watch enthusiasts, the latest models faced an abrupt removal from Apple’s shelves during the bustling holiday shopping season due to an ongoing patent dispute. However, a last-minute legal maneuver has allowed the Apple watches to make a comeback, at least temporarily.
The saga unfolded on December 18 when Apple, in a strategic move, announced the cessation of sales for its newest smartwatch models, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This decision was a preemptive measure aimed at addressing a patent dispute with medical device manufacturer Masimo.
The roots of the conflict trace back to an October ruling by the US International Trade Commission (ITC), which determined that Apple had violated Masimo’s pulse oximeter patent. This particular technology employs light-based mechanisms to gauge blood oxygen levels. Notably, older Apple Watch models and the more affordable Apple Watch SE were not implicated in the ITC’s verdict.
Expressing strong disagreement with the ITC’s decision, Apple opted to pull the contentious devices from its inventory until December 25. This deadline coincided with President Joe Biden’s window for reviewing a potential import ban. Despite efforts to resolve the matter, Masimo CEO Joe Kiani revealed that Apple had not engaged in settlement talks, although he expressed openness to negotiations.
As December 25 passed without intervention from the White House, the Biden administration declined to issue an emergency action to avert a ban on the popular smartwatches. A spokesperson for US Trade Representative Katherine Tai conveyed, “After careful consultations, Ambassador Tai decided not to reverse the ITC’s determination, and the ITC’s decision became final on December 26, 2023.”
Unfazed by this setback, Apple swiftly filed an emergency appeal with the Federal Circuit Court, seeking to overturn the ITC ruling. Simultaneously, the tech giant pledged to submit a redesigned version of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches for approval by US Customs.
A glimmer of hope emerged on Wednesday as a federal appeals court issued a temporary block on the ITC’s import ban, allowing Apple to resume sales of the affected watches. Apple confirmed in a statement that the watches are making a comeback and would be available for purchase on its website starting Thursday at noon Pacific Time. Moreover, select US stores began offering the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 on Wednesday, with broader availability expected in the coming days.
This development ensures that Apple can offer “the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year,” as stated by the company. The temporary block by the appeals court provides a window for US Customs to assess Apple’s redesigned models, with the expectation that this process will conclude by January 12. However, the acceptance of Apple’s proposed solution by the ITC remains uncertain, even if the tech giant implements software tweaks to its pulse oximeter.
In response to the latest developments, Apple expressed satisfaction with the temporary reprieve, stating, “Apple’s teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features, and we are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal.”
Source: CNN
