The US International Trade Commission has ruled against reinstating an import ban on Apple's redesigned smartwatches, permitting the company to keep selling devices featuring updated blood-oxygen technology. The decision terminates the case based on a March preliminary ruling that the watches do not infringe Masimo's patents. Masimo retains the option to appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Apple has avoided a second import ban on its Apple Watches after the US International Trade Commission terminated the proceedings. The agency upheld a preliminary determination from one of its judges in March, finding that the redesigned blood-oxygen monitoring feature does not violate patents owned by Masimo, a medical technology firm locked in a multi-year dispute with Apple. In a statement, Apple said, 'Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple and nearly all of its claims have been rejected.' Masimo has not yet responded to requests for comment on the ruling, which was issued on April 18. The conflict traces back to 2021, when Masimo first sought an import ban, alleging patent infringement. The ITC previously sided with Masimo, prompting Apple to modify the blood-oxygen sensor in some models to lift the ban. Despite this latest setback for Masimo, the company secured a win in November, when a federal jury ordered Apple to pay $634 million in a related patent case. This ITC decision provides temporary relief for Apple amid ongoing litigation, though an appeal could prolong the battle.
