Apple has suffered a major setback as the company’s apple watch banned in US. This ban is imposed on most Apple Watches sold after 2020. It is being told that this ban has been imposed due to the patent of blood oxygen function found in the device. Today we are going to give complete information about this matter. Let us know about it.
Table of Contents
Technology Desk, New Delhi. Apple, a company counted among the top technology companies, has suffered a major setback. The reason for this is that Apple’s Watch banned in the US. This list includes most of the watches sold since 2020, including the 6, 7, 8 and 9 series and Ultra as well as the Ultra 2.
The reason for this is being attributed to a feature of all these watches. Let us tell you that this ban is being imposed due to the disputed patent of blood oxygen function. There is a ban on import of all these devices in America.
What is the reason for this?
- The decision was taken in October itself that the sale of those Apple watches would be banned, in which the disputed patent of this blood oxygen level monitoring has been used.
- America’s International Trade Commission (ITC) banned the Apple Watch due to this technology, which Apple has opposed and called it wrong.
- Despite all this, the sale of Apples Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 was stopped in America last week.
- Let us tell you that the company will file an appeal against this in the US Federal Court. ITC had given time till December 25 for this ban.
- After this, their sale has been stopped on Apples online store from December 21 and at retail stores from December 24.
Why was it banned?
- The decision came after the ITC received a complaint that Apple had infringed the pulse oximetry patent of medical-monitoring technology company Masimo.
- On the basis of this complaint, Apples was ordered to stop the import and sale of its watch.
- However, after the decision, President Biden will have 60 days till December 25 to veto this order on the basis of public policy concerns.
What are the allegations against Apple?
- Massimo accused Apples of hiring his employees and stealing his technology.
- The trial ended in May with a mistrial by a jury on Massimo’s charges.
- Let us tell you that Masimo had introduced a watch last year, which along with monitoring blood oxygen level, also tracks other health aspects.
What will the company do now?
- Let us tell you that Masimo’s CEO Joe Kiani is in favor of resolving the dispute. Apart from this, Apple will appeal against the ban in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington.
- The ITC rejected Apple’s bid to block the ban during an appeal on December 20.
- Apart from this, Apple is also working on software change to solve this problem. However, Massimo says that its patent covers hardware, so software changes will not work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Apple’s smartwatch faced a ban in America due to a dispute over a blood oxygen monitoring patent. The ban affects most models sold after 2020. Despite Apple’s opposition, the International Trade Commission imposed the ban, prompting the company to file an appeal in the US Federal Court. President Biden has a window to potentially overturn the decision. This situation has significant implications for Apple and consumers, impacting the availability of advanced features in smartwatches. The outcome of the appeal process will shape the future of Apple’s smartwatch business in the US market.
