The Biden administration declared on Tuesday that it would uphold a trade ban on the sale of certain Apple Watches, as ordered by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The decision, communicated through the Office of the United States Trade Representative, stated that Ambassador Katherine Tai declined to reverse the ITC’s October 26 verdict. The ITC had determined that a blood-oxygen tracking feature in Apple Watches infringed on existing patents, leading to the ban.
Apple has not yet responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but it was reported by Reuters that the tech giant filed an emergency request with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the ban.
The ban originates from allegations made by two California-based health technology companies, Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories. They accused Apple of infringing on their patent for a blood-oxygen tracking technology. Masimo initiated the complaint in 2021, ultimately leading to the ITC order.
In response to the upheld ban, Masimo issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the decision. “The decision to exclude certain foreign-made models of the Apple Watch demonstrates that even the world’s most powerful company must abide by the law,” Masimo stated in an email, as reported by USA TODAY.
The dispute involves a complex web of patent infringement claims between Apple and Masimo. Notably, Apple retaliated by accusing Masimo of infringing on its own patents. This led to Apple filing two lawsuits against Masimo in the previous year after the latter launched its own smartwatch.
While the specifics of the patent infringement were not detailed in the recent announcement, the blood-oxygen tracking technology appears to be the focal point of contention. This feature has become increasingly prevalent in smartwatches and fitness trackers, providing users with valuable health metrics.
The decision to uphold the ban has broader implications for the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property rights. It highlights that even major corporations like Apple must adhere to legal standards and respect existing patents. The legal battle between Apple and Masimo showcases the complexities and competitive nature of the tech sector, where innovations and features often become subjects of intellectual property disputes.
As Apple seeks to challenge the ban through legal channels, the case could set a precedent for how disputes over patent infringement in the wearable technology sector are resolved. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and whether a resolution can be reached between the involved parties. In the meantime, the ban stands, affecting the sale of certain Apple Watch models implicated in the patent infringement claim.