The US ban on the import of some models of Apple smart watches came into force on Tuesday, after the administration of President Joe Biden deliberately did not veto a ruling on patent violations.
The US International Trade Commission decided in October to ban the import of some models of” Apple Watch ” to the United States, because of a patent for a technology that monitors oxygen levels in the blood.
Apple says that the commission’s conclusions were a mistake and should be withdrawn, but last week it suspended sales of the “Apple Watch Series 9″ (Apple Watch Series 9), introduced in September, and the”Apple Watch Ultra 2” (Apple Watch Ultra 2).
This is due to a complaint filed with the commission in mid-2021, accusing Apple of violating the blood oxygen measurement function of the medical device manufacturer Massimo.
“After careful consultations, ambassador (Catherine) Tai decided not to back down from the decision and the decision of the Trade Commission became final on December 26, 2023,”the Executive Office of the president said in a statement Tuesday.
Apple has been steadily enhancing fitness and health features with each generation of its watches that dominate the smartwatch category.
In September Apple released its Apple Watch Series 9, touting the increased performance along with features such as the ability to access and record health data.
“Our teams are working tirelessly to create products and services that empower consumers with leading-edge Public Health and safety features,”Apple said when the ban was issued.
Massimo filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission in 2021, arguing that the “Apple Watch 6”, a model of smart watches that went on sale in 2020, was the first to include a function to measure the level of oxygen saturation in the blood, copied one of its patented technologies, based on the light level.
