Apple announced Monday that it has stopped selling several models of its connected watch in the United States due to a dispute over a patent related to measuring oxygen levels in the blood.
This decision follows the October 27 recommendation of the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to ban the importation into the United States of certain models of Apple's connected watch, which has been accused by medical device maker Masimo of copying its technologies .
The USITC issued a “limited exclusion order” against these models, which would take effect after 60 days unless the American government objects, Masimo, a California-based company, said at the time.
A review of this recommendation is currently being conducted by President Joe Biden's office.
“The (presidential) review deadline does not end until December 25, but Apple is taking preventive measures to respect the decision should it be confirmed,” a spokesman for the US company told AFP on Monday.
These measures include the suspension of sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 – released in September – and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which will be available from December 21 on the giant's website and in stores after December 24 , this source continued.
“The ITC's expert judgment should be respected in this case,” noted a Masimo spokesman contacted by AFP on Monday.
“The decision to exclude certain foreign-made models of Apple Watch proves that even the most powerful company in the world must respect intellectual property rights laws,” he noted.
Apple, for its part, believes that the American authority is wrong and that its decision should be annulled, which the company may sue in court if necessary.
Masimo filed a complaint with the USITC in 2021, arguing that the Apple Watch 6, a model launched in 2020 that was the first to have a blood oxygen saturation measurement feature, copied one of its patented light-based technologies.
“Masimo wrongly attempted to use the ITC to prevent millions of American consumers from accessing a potentially life-saving product while making room for its own watch that copies Apple's,” the Cupertino company charged in late October.
Apple filed two patent non-compliance lawsuits against Masimo in late 2022, accusing him of copying the technology in its watches.