When it comes to a ban on Apple’s newest Apple Watch models, President Joe Biden will not be reprising his ban from last year. An International Trade Commission ruling against Apple over blood oxygen monitoring technology won’t be vetoed by the Biden administration on Tuesday. As a result, US customers cannot purchase the Apple Watch models Ultra 2 or the Apple Watch Series 9.
As part of its announcement that the watches would be taken off shelves on December 24, Apple had marked both models as “currently unavailable” on its website days earlier. The ITC ruling bans imports of further inventory, but they are still available to buy in the US from third-party vendors — such as Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart — who have them in stock.
After “careful consultations,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai upheld the ITC ruling.
As a result of the USITC decision, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be returned to customers in the US as soon as possible.
In the end, this is a win for the integrity of the US patent system, and for American consumers,” Masimo, a health-tech company, said.
Apple Watch models use blood-oxygen sensing technology that the ITC found infringes Masimo’s patents.
Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told Bloomberg last week that Apple uses Masimo’s technology to measure blood oxygen levels. Apple denies using Masimo’s technology.
Apple says that Americans who have already purchased the banned smart watches will still be able to use them.
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