In a recent development, a federal appeals court has temporarily halted the broad import ban on Apple's latest smartwatches while a patent dispute unfolds in the legal system. The emergency appeal motion was filed by Apple on Tuesday after a ruling by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) came into effect earlier this week. The ITC order prohibited Apple from importing several models including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, citing patent infringement.
The Biden administration had until Christmas day to overturn the ban, but the US Trade Representative Office confirmed on Tuesday that the White House would not intervene in the matter. However, the appeals court's temporary block on the ITC's order now grants the US Customs department the opportunity to assess Apple's redesign of the disputed watch models. The company is expected to implement the necessary changes by January 12. Apple argued in its motion filing that it could face "irreparable harm" if the ban continues while the appeal process is underway.
In response to the ban, Apple promptly removed the affected Apple Watch models from its online store, and on Tuesday, Apple Store locations operated without the latest flagship smartwatches in stock. Nevertheless, the Apple Watch SE, which was not included in the ITC ruling, remained available for sale. The import ban specifically impacted the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, as well as all models of the Apple Watch Ultra.
The initial ruling by the US International Trade Commission in October found Apple to be violating a patent related to a pulse oximeter, a device that utilizes light-based technology to measure blood-oxygen levels. The patent in question is held by Masimo, a medical device manufacturer. It is important to note that the ban only applies to imports and does not prohibit the sales of the affected Apple Watches through third-party retailers.
Despite the ban, third-party stores such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart continued to sell the latest Apple Watch models, offering customers access to the devices. Even on Amazon, a limited number of Apple Watch Series 9 models were still available for purchase. It remains to be seen whether Apple will resume sales of the Apple Watch at its own stores following this recent development.
With the emergency stay granted on Wednesday, Apple has secured a temporary reprieve allowing the company to continue selling its high-end smartwatches while it challenges the ITC's decision in court. The Federal Circuit's order directs the ITC not to enforce the ban "until further notice while the court considers the motion for a stay pending appeal."
At present, Masimo has chosen not to comment on the matter. The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo will continue to unfold in the court system, with ramifications for the smartwatch industry and the availability of Apple's latest models hanging in the balance.