United States import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models officially came into effect as President Joe Biden’s administration chose not to veto a ruling on patent infringements by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC).
The ITC had previously imposed a ban on Apple Watch models in October, citing patent infringement related to technology used for detecting blood oxygen levels. Despite Apple’s appeal, asserting that the ITC finding was erroneous and should be reversed, the company temporarily halted US sales of the affected models, namely the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The origin of the ban traces back to a complaint filed with the commission in mid-2021, accusing Apple of infringing on the “light-based oximetry functionality” patented by medical device maker Masimo Corp.
In a statement on Tuesday, the President’s executive office explained, “After careful consultations, Ambassador (Katherine) Tai decided not to reverse the determination, and the ITC’s decision became final on December 26, 2023.”
Apple, renowned for enhancing fitness and health features with each iteration of its Apple Watch, has dominated the smartwatch category. The most recent release, the Apple Watch Series 9, launched in September, promising increased performance and new features for accessing and logging health data.
As the ban takes effect, Apple will likely explore legal avenues and strategic responses to address the impact on its smartwatch sales in the United States.