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Spell the end of the road for the latest Apple Watch models
When a tech giant like Apple launches a product such as the Apple Watch, it's typically expected to sell for some time. However, unfortunate events have left Apple without the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 for an extended period.
This situation stems from a long-standing patent infringement lawsuit between Apple and the medical technology company, Masimo. Masimo filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2020, alleging that the tech giant had violated more than 10 of its patents. Recently, a US judge declared that Apple had indeed infringed on one of Masimo's patents, specifically relating to a pulse oximeter feature that records blood oxygen levels. Since the Series 6, with the exception of the SE, all Apple Watch models have been equipped with a blood oxygen sensor. The impact of this ruling on Apple remains unclear.
In response to this US court decision, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has made its stance clear – Apple will cease selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 on its website as of December 12th and will remove these models from its retail stores by December 21st. Apple's official statement on the matter can be found below (source: 9to5Mac):
The Biden administration has until December to act. This ruling was invalidated on January 25th (should Apple choose to do so), but as things currently stand, the two newest Apple Watch models are about to disappear from Apple Stores.
If you're interested in purchasing one of these Apple Watches, time is of the essence. Third-party retailers may still have stock, making them a viable option beyond Apple's deadline. However, the import ban on these Wearables poses a challenge for Apple, making it difficult to restock its inventory. Once third-party retailers sell out, these watches will be unavailable until the legal issue is resolved.
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The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo has prompted an import ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 due to infringement of Masimo's blood oxygen detection technology patent. As a result, these Apple Watch models are disappearing from US retailers and online platforms. Apple is exploring various avenues to overturn the ban or find a way to continue selling the devices without violating Masimo's patents[3][5].
