Apple Smartwatches Resume US Sales After Emergency Appeal

(CTN News) – After the tech company submitted an emergency appeal with authorities, sales of Apple’s latest smartwatches can restart in the US.

The US sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches were temporarily suspended due to a patent dispute.

U.S. trade regulators have previously banned selling and importing Apple Watches equipped with oxygen sensor technology.

Apple was accused by Masimo, a device maker, of stealing tech and employees.

This follows the White House’s decision not to reverse the import and sales restriction that went into force this week on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches. Following the decision, Apple stated that it “strongly disagrees” with it.

The iPhone maker filed an emergency plea with the US Court of Appeals, and it was successful in having the prohibition lifted.

Apple “pre-emptively” pulled the gadgets from sale on its US site and in US stores earlier this month. No changes have been observed in sales in other areas.

There was a 60-day review period during which the president, who possesses the veto authority, could consider the US International Trade Commission (USITC) order issued in October. The White House’s decision to maintain the ban came on Christmas Day, marking the conclusion of the review period.

Tuesday, the US Trade Representative’s office announced that, following “careful consultations,” it had decided against overturning the USITC’s ruling. Ambassador Katherine Tai headed the office.

Apple requested that the prohibition be temporarily lifted so that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may investigate whether Masimo’s patents were infringed upon by the redesigned Apple Watches that omit the disputed technology.

An Apple spokeswoman stated that the decision was expected to be made by CBP on 12 January.

Masimo Corporation, a developer of medical devices, has two patents that Apple was found to have infringed upon in October by the USITC.

The California-based firm had claimed that Apple had kidnapped important employees and taken other measures to steal its blood oxygen measurement technology.

Due to the contentious blood oxygen feature, most of Apple’s smartwatch models have featured it since 2020. The SE versions, which are more affordable, do not. There will be no impact on watches already sold due to the restriction.

On Tuesday, Apple issued the following statement: “We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting exclusion order, and are taking all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible” .