In a setback for tech giant Apple, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has rejected the company’s bid to delay the ban on the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The ban, in response to an October ruling that the watches’ SpO2 sensors infringe on patents held by medical device maker Masimo, took effect on December 26.
Despite Apple’s announcement to remove the affected models from store shelves, the ITC’s decision not only halts sales but also limits out-of-warranty repairs for various Apple Watch models in the U.S. The ongoing patent dispute has left fans of Apple products without access to non-warranty repairs for certain models, adding another layer of frustration for consumers.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has notified customer service staff that out-of-warranty hardware repairs and device replacements for Apple Watch Series 6 and later models (excluding SE) will be unavailable during the ban. This, however, does not impact devices covered under warranty or the AppleCare Plus extended program.
Apple’s attempt to seek intervention from the Biden administration failed, leading to the ban becoming final on December 26. The company has expressed strong disagreement with the decision and is taking steps to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC.
Experts anticipate that Apple’s appeal may prolong the case for approximately another year. Meanwhile, Apple is also working on a software update to address the patent infringement issues, although Masimo argues that a comprehensive solution requires more substantial hardware changes.
As the legal battle between Apple and Masimo unfolds, the fate of the banned Apple Watch models remains uncertain, leaving consumers eagerly awaiting the resolution of this high-stakes patent dispute.
[Source: Reuters – Biden administration allows U.S. trade tribunal’s ban on Apple Watch imports