Jakarta –
Prohibition of sales Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the United States remains valid. Apple also filed an appeal against the decision.
Apple previously stopped selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in its online store on December 21 and sales in its physical stores stopped on December 24. The ban was imposed after the International Trade Commission (ITC) violated Masimo’s patented blood oxygen monitoring technology.
“We strongly disagree with the USITC’s decision and the order issued, and we will take all actions to return the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to consumers in the US as quickly as possible,” Apple said in its official statement, as quoted by The Verge, Wednesday (27/12/2023).
In addition, Apple also requested an emergency suspension of the ban at least until US Customs determines whether the new versions of the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 still infringe Masimo’s patents. US Customs will make a decision regarding the two smartwatches on January 12, 2024.
Patent dispute between Apple and Masimo is related to blood oxygen monitoring technology which was first introduced in the Apple Watch Series 6. Masimo also accused Apple of poaching its employees to bring this technology to its smart watches.
This sales ban only applies to Apple Watches that have a blood oxygen sensor. So Apple Watch SEs that are not equipped with this feature are still sold in Apple retail and online stores.
Sale Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in other countries are also not affected as this ban only applies to the US. Third-party retailers in the US such as Target, BestBuy and Walmart also continue to sell the latest series of Apple Watches as long as they are in stock because Apple cannot import new units into the US from abroad.
Apple will only be able to sell the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 again if their appeal is successful, if they reconcile with Masimo, or if they succeed in changing the oxygen sensor technology in a way that doesn’t infringe Masimo’s patents.
Watch the video “World Smartwatch Sales Increase 9 Percent in Q3 2023”
(vmp/fay)
2023-12-27 15:11:35
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