Apple Scores Legal Win: US Court Pauses Import Ban on Smartwatches

Washington: In a recent development, a US appeals court granted Apple a temporary reprieve from a government commission’s import ban on certain Apple smartwatches, stated USA media.

This pause follows a patent dispute with medical technology firm Masimo. Apple sought the intervention of the US Court of Appeals after the US International Trade Commission (ITC) found it in violation of Masimo’s patents related to pulse oximetry technology.

The ban, which prevents the import and sale of Apple Watches equipped with blood-oxygen level reading capabilities, does not affect older models or the less-expensive Apple Watch SE. Despite the setback, Apple’s wearables, home, and accessory business reported $8.28 billion in revenue for Q3 2023.