After the Biden administration declined to override the restriction, Apple was formally prohibited from selling its most recent Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2, in the United States as of today. For those who are unaware, Apple and the medical business Masimo are embroiled in a legal dispute over patent infringement pertaining to blood oxygen monitoring sensors.
What Has Happened So Far with the Apple Watch Sales Ban?
Since 2020, Apple and Masimo have been involved in a patent dispute. Masimo filed a complaint in the US District Court for the Central District of California at the beginning of 2020, claiming that Apple had violated its blood oxygen monitoring patents.
After the lawsuit filed in 2020 received an inadequate response, Masimo filed a formal complaint with the International Trade Commission once again in 2021. Apple was judged to have violated two of the 103 patents that Masimo had filed a complaint against, according to the ITC.
The ITC decided in October 2023 that the ban would not go into effect until after the Presidential Review. Apple removed the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from sale last week from both its official brick-and-mortar shops and its online website as a preventative step.
The Presidential Review was declared earlier today, and the Biden administration declined to lift the prohibition. therefore formalizing the sales prohibition on Apple Watches.
"After thorough deliberation, Ambassador Katherine Tai determined not to overturn the ITC's ruling, and on December 26, 2023, the ITC's decision became final." The Biden Administration
Apple Retains Position
Apple, meantime, has said in a statement to 9to5Mac that it would work to bring back Apple Watch sales in the United States and that it vehemently disagrees with the sales prohibition.
"We are taking all necessary steps to get the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 back to customers in the United States as soon as possible, and we vehemently disagree with the USITC decision and the ensuing exclusion order." - Apple
It seems that Apple is currently looking at ways to disable the blood oxygen monitoring function via a software update, which would enable the business to sell the Apple Watches that are illegal in the nation.
On the other hand, Masimo has already said that it is prepared to engage in talks with Apple. The massive Cupertino company would have to pay several million dollars if it were to choose this path.
Do Apple Watches Still Sell in the United States?
You may still get the most recent Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 throughout the Christmas season via independent stores like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart. Notably, Apple has only prohibited the sale of the two aforementioned versions via its official channels; the Apple Watch SE is still available for purchase on the company's official website or retail location.