Apple avoids a second import ban for its redesigned smartwatches in latest court ruling

Source: Engadget

Background

The patent dispute between Apple and Masimo dates back to 2021, when Masimo first filed a complaint seeking an import ban on Apple Watches that it claimed infringed its patents. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) initially ruled that Apple violated Masimo’s patents, leading to an import ban and prompting Apple to redesign the blood‑oxygen monitoring feature in certain Watch models. Unsatisfied with that outcome, Masimo later pursued a second import ban targeting the updated models.

ITC Decision

In the latest ruling, the ITC terminated the case and relied on a preliminary ruling from one of its judges issued in March, which found that Apple’s redesigned smartwatches do not infringe Masimo’s patents. The agency therefore declined to reinstate the import ban, allowing Apple to continue selling the watches with the reworked blood‑oxygen technology. Apple thanked the commission, stating that “Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple and nearly all of its claims have been rejected.”

Masimo retains the option to appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Implications

The ruling may bring some closure to the long‑running legal feud over the Apple Watch’s blood‑oxygen sensor. While the ITC decision is a setback for Masimo, the company can still pursue an appeal.

Related Legal Battles

In a separate patent‑infringement case, a federal jury in November sided with Masimo, awarding the company $634 million in damages against Apple.