US Apple Watch sales and import ban: What you need to know

Posted:
in Apple Watch edited December 2023

The U.S. sales and import ban on the Apple Watch started but was swiftly stopped. Here's what you need to know about the ban and Apple's reprieve, as of December 27, 2023.

Apple Watch Series 9 (left) and Apple Watch Ultra (right)
Apple Watch Series 9 (left) and Apple Watch Ultra (right)



Following a recommendation by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to instigate an Apple Watch import ban in the United States in late October, the Biden administration let its 60-day review window elapse on December 25, and allowed the Apple Watch import ban to go ahead. After two days where the import and sale of a number of Apple Watch models were restricted in the United States, the ban has been temporarily lifted.

On December 18, Apple said it would pre-emptively stop sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States, as a just-in-case measure to comply with the ban if it were to go through. Apple ceased sales of the two models from December 21 online, and December 24 in brick and mortar Apple Store locations.

With the ban in place, Apple was legally prohibited from importing the device, and restarting sales, until it won an appeal on December 27 that halted the ban on an interim basis.

Apple Watch import ban: the story so far



Medical company Masimo filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in 2020, claiming Apple stole trade secrets and violated patents with the blood pulse oximeter in the Apple Watch. This was followed up by a U.S. International Trade Commission filing in 2021.

Masimo accused Apple of unfairly copying the blood oxygen sensing feature of its products.

A blood oxygen level reading on an Apple Watch
A blood oxygen level reading on an Apple Watch



It was also reasoned by Masimo that the U.S. public would not be affected by an Apple Watch import ban as the sensor isn't "essential to the public health or welfare." This was due to Apple's warnings in fine print that the measurements from the sensor "should not be relied upon for medical purposes," Masimo declared.

Though the District Court trial ended in a mistrial and didn't resume, the ITC did rule in favor of Masimo in January.

On October 26, the ITC issued its order that would bar Apple from importing any Apple Watch models that violated Masimo's patents, following a full review. That decision then triggered the 60-day review period for the White House.

"Masimo has wrongly attempted to use the ITC to keep a potentially lifesaving product from millions of U.S. consumers while making way for their own watch that copies Apple," an Apple spokesperson said. "While today's decision has no immediate impact on sales of Apple Watch, we believe it should be reversed, and will continue our efforts to appeal."

On December 18, Apple said it would pre-emptively halt sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States. Online sales halted on December 21, while Apple Store sales paused on December 24.

Meanwhile, Apple tried to appeal for a stay of execution, but on December 20, the ITC denied a motion to block the ban until after its appeals ran out.

While the White House confirmed on December 19 it was tracking the potential ban, it ultimately didn't step in, and allowed the ITC ban to commence as ordered on December 25.

On December 27, a report revealed that the entire affair may have been caused by lawyers for Masimo discovering an early-morning email to Tim Cook in 2013, from a former Masimo-affiliated scientist. The email triggered Apple hiring Marcelo Lamego from Cercacor Laboratories, the sister company of Masimo.

Lamego was let go within months of his hiring, with Apple citing a lack of fit with the company, such as clashing with managers and demanding million-dollar budgets. Masimo believes that Lamego gained knowledge about the blood-oxygen sensing technology in his employment with Ceracor, and Apple got rid of Lamego once it had gained his knowledge.

Apple previously testified that the blood-oxygen feature's development didn't actually start until months after Lamego's departure.

Later on December 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit responded by granting Apple's motion to stay the ITC import and sales ban on a temporary basis. The motion temporarily halts the ban until the Appeals Court makes a full ruling on the infringement case, giving Apple a reprieve that could last weeks or even months.

What an Apple Watch import ban means for consumers



When the Apple Watch import ban was implemented, the selection of Apple Watch models U.S. consumers could buy suddenly got a lot smaller.

The Apple Watch import ban only impacted models that allegedly infringe on the patent, which includes the Apple Watch Series 6 and later models. Earlier models and the Apple Watch SE do not offer the feature and were not affected.

Under the ITC order, the ban only applied to the affected Apple Watch models that were set to be imported or sold by Apple from December 25. New units bought before the Apple Watch import ban's implementation were legal to use by consumers.

Apple's warranties were also operating as normal, so any purchased devices within warranty could still have been serviced by the company. Service replacements wouldn't have been offered for out-of-warranty devices under the import ban.

Consumers in other territories not affected by the ITC, namely everywhere else except the United States, didn't feel the effects of the ban at all, and won't after its reintroduction.

Apple Watch import ban: What happens next



The 60-day decision period from the White House did not guarantee an Apple Watch import ban would actually take place, but ultimately it did.

With the import and sales ban in effect, Apple could not sell newer models of the Apple Watch that allegedly infringe on Masimo's patents, until the ban was lifted in some fashion.

If left uncontested, the Apple Watch import ban could've theoretically lasted until the patent itself expires in August 2028.

Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9



Apple was not able to appeal the ban itself during the 60-day White House review window, but it did attempt to pause the ban until all appeals concluded. The ITC denied the motion on December 20.

On December 26, the day after the 60-day window concluded and with the ban in place, Apple was allowed to file its "emergency motion" to appeal the import ban. Apple claimed the "immediate interim stay" motion was needed due to the "irreparable harm" the ban will do to its business, and because the ITC has said it will require over two weeks to respond to the appeal itself.

That appeal worked, and Apple is able to restart imports and sales of the affected Apple Watch models in the United States. At least until the Appeals Court issues a full ruling.

What else Apple can do



As it has done in the past for other import or sales bans, Apple appealed, and it succeeded With the United States being such a major market, it has a vested interest to do just that.

However, since this can be a lengthy and expensive process to actually complete the legal journey, and with no guarantee that the ban won't return once the Appeals Court issues its full verdict, Apple may not necessarily want to leave the U.S. as the only market it cannot sell the Apple Watch within.

It may turn to other ways to get around the ban, by changing the Apple Watch itself.

Rather than keep the feature in its current state, Apple could remove it from future models. If there's no infringing component inside the Apple Watch, it isn't affected by the import ban, much like the Apple Watch SE.

This is an expensive and time-consuming way to go, since it would require hardware design changes that affects the massive supply chain Apple employs.

There's also the possibility to work around a reintroduced ban by disabling the feature in software, with the argument that if the components aren't used by watchOS at all. While there is a chance this could satisfy U.S. Customs, Masimo insists that the patent violations can only be resolved by hardware alterations.

Apple could also come up with an alternate way to perform the function in future Apple Watch models, though that will increase research and development costs. It may also take too long to perform and actually implement by the next generation, compared to fighting the legal battle head-on.

There is another way to proceed, but it would require Apple to not only incur costs, but also swallow its pride.

On December 19, before the ban took place, Masimo CEO Joe Kiani claimed the company was open to a settlement with Apple, and that Masimop would "work with them to improve their product. However, Kiani claims Apple hasn't "called" to make one, and hasn't hinted as to how much that settlement could be.

Settling with Masimo could be the quickest way to a full resolution for Apple, but only if the settlement isn't too expensive. Or at least isn't that much more costly than continuing the legal wrangling, engineering workarounds, and making changes to its production processes.



Read on AppleInsider

FileMakerFeller
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 45
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,726member
    Watch out! Or Watch in? That is the question.
    FileMakerFellersdw2001watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 45
    Why doesn’t Apple just purchase that pesky company, Masimo?  Problem solved👍. 
    hselburnJFC_PApulseimagesh2p9secondkox2iOS_Guy80Anilu_777argonautwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 45
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,142member
    Michail said:
    Why doesn’t Apple just purchase that pesky company, Masimo?  Problem solved👍. 
    Or just buy a license from them. Like they always do. Or (temporarily) disable the alleged infringing components with a software update.

    hselburnpulseimagesFileMakerFelleriOS_Guy80libertyandfreeAlex1Nargonautwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 45
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,628member
    eightzero said:
    Michail said:
    Why doesn’t Apple just purchase that pesky company, Masimo?  Problem solved👍. 
    Or just buy a license from them. Like they always do. Or (temporarily) disable the alleged infringing components with a software update.

    I agree. Once it got to this stage a license seems like a logical business move. I know it would avoid all of this, and IMO won't affect Apple's profits even 1/100 of one percent. 
    hselburnmuthuk_vanalingamFileMakerFellerAlex1N
  • Reply 5 of 45
    JFC_PAJFC_PA Posts: 947member
    Michail said:
    Why doesn’t Apple just purchase that pesky company, Masimo?  Problem solvedߑ�amp;nbsp;
    Or buy them off with a license fee payment.  Which has to be what Maximo is angling for. 
    edited November 2023 pulseimagesAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 45
    This will be the new holiday movie for AppleTV+, “How Apple saved Christmas”.  
    Santa has afib, but the mean Dr. Moss has banned a stylish device that could save his life. Who will help Santa?  Tune in and find out!
    KT123FileMakerFellerh2pAlex1N9secondkox2Graeme000argonautwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 45
    doggonedoggone Posts: 400member
    Buying them isn't so easy.  TH ecurrent market cap for MASI is 4.3M.  Back in April it was 3 times as much.  Apple won't want to spend that for a measily O2 sensor.  So licensing would be the way to go if the gov't agrees with the ban.
    h2pwatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 45
    KT123KT123 Posts: 13member
    I'm surprised Apple let it go that far without reaching a financial resolution with Masimo. There's some similarity between this and what happened to the 5G modem fiasco between Apple and Qualcomm and it got resolved without the iPhone missing a beat.

    I also find it hard to believe the Biden administration will allow this to happen on the cusp of an impending recession, that's not what Bidenomics is all about....
    Alex1Nnubuswatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 45
    badmonkbadmonk Posts: 1,329member
    I also wonder what the “cutting edge technology” that they possess is all about, considering that pulse oximetry is such an old and established technology (50+ years).
    viclauyycAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 45
    I know this wont happen but I dream that This is Apple’s chance to drop the watch altogether and exit that market. It is by far the worst Apple product ever. I’m embarrassed for Apple. I’ve tried and given up on several models, most recently the Ultra 1. Obnoxious phone/watch integration and by the time I turn off 1001 unwanted naggy intrusive “features” there’s little value for the price. Excuse me while I search Apple support forums to figure out how to disable this screeching beeping crisis alarm signal because I bent my wrist too far at the gym. The Apple Watch “experience” is trash. Unpopular opinion but surely I’m not alone. 
    darkvaderdope_ahmine
  • Reply 11 of 45
    I know this wont happen but I dream that This is Apple’s chance to drop the watch altogether and exit that market. It is by far the worst Apple product ever. I’m embarrassed for Apple. I’ve tried and given up on several models, most recently the Ultra 1. Obnoxious phone/watch integration and by the time I turn off 1001 unwanted naggy intrusive “features” there’s little value for the price. Excuse me while I search Apple support forums to figure out how to disable this screeching beeping crisis alarm signal because I bent my wrist too far at the gym. The Apple Watch “experience” is trash. Unpopular opinion but surely I’m not alone. 
    Certainly the watch isn’t for everyone, and clearly not you. But given the fact that Apple has over 90% of the smart watch market in North America it clearly meets the needs of many. I’m on my third version and absolutely love it. 
    pscooter63muthuk_vanalingammultimediaKT123beowulfschmidtgeomac25Alex1Nbageljoeymike1jas99
  • Reply 12 of 45
    I know this wont happen but I dream that This is Apple’s chance to drop the watch altogether and exit that market. It is by far the worst Apple product ever. I’m embarrassed for Apple. I’ve tried and given up on several models, most recently the Ultra 1. Obnoxious phone/watch integration and by the time I turn off 1001 unwanted naggy intrusive “features” there’s little value for the price. Excuse me while I search Apple support forums to figure out how to disable this screeching beeping crisis alarm signal because I bent my wrist too far at the gym. The Apple Watch “experience” is trash. Unpopular opinion but surely I’m not alone. 
    There's no way you're actually using this like a normal human uses an Apple Watch bc really? Lmao
    multimediaKT123geomac25mike1jas99SpitbathStrangeDaysronnwatto_cobraradarthekat
  • Reply 13 of 45
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,304member
    "It was also reasoned by Masimo that the U.S. public would not be affected by an Apple Watch import ban as the sensor isn't "essential to the public health or welfare." This was due to Apple's warnings in fine print that the measurements from the sensor "should not be relied upon for medical purposes," Masimo declared." If the Apple sensor isn't of any medical value then why is Masimo suing Apple? Is Apple's implementation inferior to Masimo's? Is Apple's implementation even similar to Masimo's? Who actually owns the original pulse oximetry patents? Is Masimo violating someone else's patents? 
    12StrangersAlex1Njas99JanNLargonautwatto_cobraradarthekat
  • Reply 14 of 45
    I know this wont happen but I dream that This is Apple’s chance to drop the watch altogether and exit that market. It is by far the worst Apple product ever. I’m embarrassed for Apple. I’ve tried and given up on several models, most recently the Ultra 1. Obnoxious phone/watch integration and by the time I turn off 1001 unwanted naggy intrusive “features” there’s little value for the price. Excuse me while I search Apple support forums to figure out how to disable this screeching beeping crisis alarm signal because I bent my wrist too far at the gym. The Apple Watch “experience” is trash. Unpopular opinion but surely I’m not alone. 
    If you are unable to use any of your Apple watches to make your life easier then maybe you need to buy a Swatch, a Motorola Razor and call it good.

    P.S. I know a 5 yr old who does Apple Watch tutoring⌚️👀 
    muthuk_vanalingammultimediaKT123h2pAlex1Nmike1jas99SpitbathStrangeDaysronn
  • Reply 15 of 45
    multimediamultimedia Posts: 1,057member
    I know this wont happen but I dream that This is Apple’s chance to drop the watch altogether and exit that market. It is by far the worst Apple product ever. I’m embarrassed for Apple. I’ve tried and given up on several models, most recently the Ultra 1. Obnoxious phone/watch integration and by the time I turn off 1001 unwanted naggy intrusive “features” there’s little value for the price. Excuse me while I search Apple support forums to figure out how to disable this screeching beeping crisis alarm signal because I bent my wrist too far at the gym. The Apple Watch “experience” is trash. Unpopular opinion but surely I’m not alone. 
    You obviously don’t understand the importance of the Apple Watch in the Apple Ecosystem. People are switching from Android to iPhone so they can wear and use an Apple Watch. It’s Apple’s Tail waging it’s Dog. Did you know that the Apple Watch is the world’s most popular watch? Not just the world’s most popular SmartWatch.  The world’s most popular watch full stop.
    muthuk_vanalingamh2pAlex1Nbageljoeymike1jas99SpitbathStrangeDaysronnmanfred zorn
  • Reply 16 of 45
    saareksaarek Posts: 1,576member
    doggone said:
    Buying them isn't so easy.  TH ecurrent market cap for MASI is 4.3M.  Back in April it was 3 times as much.  Apple won't want to spend that for a measily O2 sensor.  So licensing would be the way to go if the gov't agrees with the ban.
    4.3M USD? That’s barely a bonus payment to one of their top execs.
    KT123pscooter63Alex1N13485mike1jas99manfred zornwatto_cobraradarthekat
  • Reply 17 of 45
    h2ph2p Posts: 335member
    doggone said:
    Buying them isn't so easy.  TH ecurrent market cap for MASI is 4.3M.  Back in April it was 3 times as much.  Apple won't want to spend that for a measily O2 sensor.  So licensing would be the way to go if the gov't agrees with the ban.
    Informative. But FYI, he meant $4.3 B. 
    Alex1Nronnwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 45
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    rob53 said:
    "It was also reasoned by Masimo that the U.S. public would not be affected by an Apple Watch import ban as the sensor isn't "essential to the public health or welfare." This was due to Apple's warnings in fine print that the measurements from the sensor "should not be relied upon for medical purposes," Masimo declared." If the Apple sensor isn't of any medical value then why is Masimo suing Apple? Is Apple's implementation inferior to Masimo's? Is Apple's implementation even similar to Masimo's? Who actually owns the original pulse oximetry patents? Is Masimo violating someone else's patents? 
    Pulse oximetry was invented in 1974, the patents are long expired.

    The Masimo patents should never have been issued.  I'm not a fan of Apple bullying smaller companies, but this one is bullshit on Masimo's part.
    badmonkjas99Alex1Nronn
  • Reply 19 of 45
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,628member
    darkvader said:
    rob53 said:
    "It was also reasoned by Masimo that the U.S. public would not be affected by an Apple Watch import ban as the sensor isn't "essential to the public health or welfare." This was due to Apple's warnings in fine print that the measurements from the sensor "should not be relied upon for medical purposes," Masimo declared." If the Apple sensor isn't of any medical value then why is Masimo suing Apple? Is Apple's implementation inferior to Masimo's? Is Apple's implementation even similar to Masimo's? Who actually owns the original pulse oximetry patents? Is Masimo violating someone else's patents? 
    Pulse oximetry was invented in 1974, the patents are long expired.

    The Masimo patents should never have been issued.  I'm not a fan of Apple bullying smaller companies, but this one is bullshit on Masimo's part.
    The patents are not for inventing pulse oximetry. The ones Apple was accused of infringing have to do with the method of integrating and reading on a mobile device like a smartwatch. 

    Apple patents a LOT of things related to technology they did not originally invent, as do 1000's (millions?) of manufacturing and technology companies, and individuals.
    edited November 2023 muthuk_vanalingamh2pAlex1N
  • Reply 20 of 45
    Apple should take this time-out to do dedicated software bug fixing. It’s badly in need of that since watchOS 10.
    Alex1N
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