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The US International Trade Commission has recently issued a potential import ban for the Apple Watch, citing a violation of a patent held by medical company Masimo. The decision now rests on the shoulders of the American president, who must determine whether to impose the ban within the next sixty days.
Reuters reports that earlier this year, in January, the International Trade Commission had ruled in favor of Masimo, stating that Apple had infringed upon their patent related to the blood oxygen meter in the Apple Watch. Following this ruling, the Trade Commission has now moved forward with the potential import ban. However, it is important to note that the ban is not yet in effect and is pending a final decision from the US president's administration. It is rare for American presidents to overturn an import ban, but Apple still has the option to appeal the decision.
In response to the committee's ruling, Apple has expressed its intention to challenge the decision. The inclusion of a blood oxygen meter in the Apple Watch was a significant addition in 2020 with the release of the Apple Watch Series 6. This innovative feature utilizes optical sensors on the back of the watch to provide users with valuable health information.
Update: 7:50 PM: A previous statement in the article suggested that an import ban was unlikely to be imposed due to the historical reluctance of American presidents to do so. However, it is clarified that American presidents rarely veto such bans, as reported by Reuters. Thank you to MikeN for pointing out this error.
As the situation unfolds, the tech industry and consumers alike will be closely watching the outcome of this potential import ban on the Apple Watch. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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