Patent issues. Apple stops selling two Watch models
December 19, 02:17 Share:
There were problems with the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Photo: Apple)
This week, Apple will stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 on its website due to a lawsuit related to the possible theft of trade secrets.
Starting December 21, sales of smartwatches will be discontinued in the Apple Store online store.. Sales at Apple retail locations in the US will stop on December 24th.
This is due to the fact that from December 25, a ban on the sale of these watches with the function of measuring blood oxygen levels, Blood Oxygen, may come into force, which Apple will not be able to quickly challenge.
Back in 2020, the medical company Masimo filed a lawsuit regarding this technology and the devices that contain it in US District Court. The company alleged that Apple stole trade secrets and violated patents. Subsequently, an application was also filed with the US International Trade Commission ( ITC).
In October 2023, the ITC issued an order banning the import into the United States of any Apple Watch models that infringe Masimo's patents. A 60-day White House review of the commission's decision began.
“The President's review of the U.S. International Trade Commission's order regarding a technical intellectual property dispute involving Apple Watch devices that contain the Blood Oxygen feature continues.. … Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is taking a number of legal and technical measures to ensure the availability of Apple Watch to customers,” the company said in a statement, as quoted by AppleInsider.
It is almost certain that Apple will challenge the import ban, since otherwise it would theoretically last until the patent itself expires – until August 2028.
Recall that Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 were presented by the company on September 10, 2023. They went on sale September 22 for $399 and $799 respectively.
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