Apple Watch faces import ban in US for infringing med company’s patent

A US judge ruled that Apple had infringed Masimo's medical tech company pulse oximeter patents. As a result, newer Apple Watch models are facing an import ban in the US.

The US tech giant revealed its first Apple Watch with a pulse oximeter sensor in 2020. It powers the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch Series 6 and later models, measuring the percentage of oxygen your red blood cells carry from your lungs to the rest of the body.

"Today's decision should help restore fairness in the market. Apple has similarly infringed on other companies' technologies, and we believe today's ruling exposes Apple as a company that takes other companies' innovations and repackages them," Joe Kiani, CEO of Masimo, said.

According to the company's press release, Masimo recently debuted its watch, marketed as the first wearable technology to accurately and continuously monitor health data, such as oxygen level, hydration index, pulse, heart, and respiration rates.

Reuters reported that Apple is going to dispute the decision. "We respectfully disagree with today's decision and look forward to a full review by the Commission," Apple said in a statement.

According to Masimo, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) will now consider whether to implement an import ban on these Apple Watches.

Most of Apple's watches are made in Vietnam, as well as India and Brazil.