Apple Inc. has halted sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States following a U.S. International Trade Commission ruling, effective online from December 21 and in retail stores from December 24.
The suspension, arising from a patent dispute with Masimo over medical sensor technology, centers on alleged patent infringement related to blood-oxygen level detection.
The ITC, upholding a previous order in October, raises the possibility of an import ban on Apple’s technology.
While Apple disputes the ruling, it won’t impact previously sold watches, applying only to unsold inventory.
The ban originated from Masimo’s 2020 lawsuit, leading to a 2021 ITC filing, and despite ongoing legal efforts by Apple, the short-term ban may persist until the conclusion of legal proceedings, potentially extending beyond the patent’s August 2028 expiration.
International sales remain unaffected during the U.S. ban period.
