Apple’s engineers are currently developing a software update for the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The goal is to modify how the features for measuring blood oxygen saturation work and how the information is presented. This initiative is in response to a potential sales ban in the U.S. following a legal decision, as reported by Bloomberg.
Masimo, a company specializing in medical technology and features, emerged victorious in a lawsuit against Apple before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Masimo accused Apple of utilizing information and data shared during preliminary meetings in 2013, which were part of preparations for a potential collaboration between the two companies before the launch of the first Apple Watch with advanced medical features.
Despite Apple’s efforts in releasing software updates, Masimo conveyed to Bloomberg that these updates are insufficient. Masimo insists that Apple must alter the components used in the Apple Watch for blood oxygen measurement.
The key feature at the center of Masimo’s legal action against Apple is the technology powering the blood oxygen saturation sensor, introduced by Apple in its watch series starting from the Apple Watch 6 and onwards. However, the sales ban will specifically impact the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple also faced allegations, stemming from Masimo’s lawsuit, that it attempted to recruit employees from the medical features company to establish a core team for developing various features in its smartwatch lineup. Some of these features were claimed to infringe on patents owned by Masimo, according to Reuters in October.
In an official statement, Apple acknowledged its readiness for the ban on selling its latest smartwatch models, the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, in the U.S. market following its legal defeat. The company affirmed its commitment to exhaust “all possible legal and technical avenues to resume selling its smartwatches in the U.S. market as soon as possible.”
The judicial decision can potentially be halted by the U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, given a 60-day grace period from the issuance of the U.S. Commission’s decision to study it, with the deadline set for December 25.
Should the Biden administration not intervene, Apple will cease the sale of its latest smartwatches from December 21 via its website and on December 24 in its stores. The ban will also extend to the sale of its smartwatches covered by the ban through various distributors and retailers.
Apple had previously secured a reprieve during a legal case in 2013, during the tenure of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Samsung had sought the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the sale of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, alleging patent violations by the American company.
At that time, the Obama administration intervened, utilizing its authority to prevent the ban, which was targeting the iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, and iPad 2.
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