Apple Pauses Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S. Due to Patent Dispute with Masimo

Apple Halts Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in U.S. Amidst Patent Dispute

Apple temporarily halts sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S. due to patent dispute.

Apple, the tech giant that never misses a heartbeat, has announced that it will be putting a temporary halt on the sales of its hottest wearable devices, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2—an unfortunate fallout of an ongoing patent dispute with the medical tech company Masimo. It seems like even the world of technology is not immune to the messy world of legal battles!

Now, before you start panicking or frantically googling “Where can I buy an Apple Watch Series 9?”, let’s delve into the details. According to Apple’s statement, starting December 21, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 will no longer be available for purchase on Apple’s online store in the U.S. (after 12 p.m. Pacific Time), or from physical Apple retail stores in the U.S. after December 24. Don’t worry, fellow tech enthusiasts, our friends across the globe won’t face the same inconvenience—availability in other countries remains unaffected. Phew!

So, what’s the fuss all about? Well, it turns out that Masimo is claiming that Apple infringed on its patents related to non-invasive blood oxygen sensing, otherwise known as pulse oximetry. In simpler terms, Apple’s fancy wristwear allegedly encroached on Masimo’s territory of monitoring blood oxygen levels. A serious accusation, indeed!

Now, here’s where things get interesting. The International Trade Commission (ITC) has already ordered a ban on the import of some Apple Watch models into the U.S., citing Apple’s violation of Masimo’s patents. And who has the power to overturn this order, you ask? None other than the President of the United States himself—Joe Biden. But hold your breath, because the President has until December 25 to review the order. Although vetoes of ITC import bans are quite rare, the tech world is eagerly waiting to see if the President will give Apple the kiss of life or leave it hanging by a thread.

In the meantime, Apple, being ever the visionary, is taking proactive steps to comply with the ruling, should it stand. They are temporarily pausing the sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to avoid any sort of legal entanglement. It seems Apple is not taking any chances and wants to stay on the right side of the law.

But fear not, Apple diehards! The company’s statement also reveals that they are fiercely fighting against the order. In fact, they are leaving no stone unturned in exploring both legal and technical avenues to ensure that the beloved Apple Watch is available to all their loyal customers. If the order does stand, Apple promises to do everything in its power to make the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 available in the U.S. as soon as humanly possible.

And now, dear readers, we play the waiting game. As Apple and Masimo continue their legal tug-of-war, we eagerly anticipate more news and updates on this ever-unfolding drama. So stay tuned and keep those wrists ready—it won’t be long until the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are back in action, tickling your pulse and tracking your every move!