Breaking News: Apple Watch Sales Ban Resumes Tomorrow
Update: Apple has already prepared for this development to ensure continuous sales of Apple Watch models in the US market. Here's the strategy: Modified versions of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 are now available through Apple Stores and Apple.com. However, these models lack Blood Oxygen Measurement capabilities. Notably, Apple has not altered the hardware of these devices. Instead, the company has implemented a software lock on these Apple Watch models, preventing users from using the Blood Oxygen measurement application. The ability to reverse this limitation will depend on the outcome of the ongoing court case. It's important to note that previously sold models and sales outside the US market remain unaffected. Should you wish to purchase an Apple Watch and reside in the US, it may be worthwhile to seek out older stock with full capabilities in other retail stores (other than Apple directly) before it sells out.
Apple Inc. is currently navigating choppy legal waters with the International Trade Commission (ITC) in a case that already has significant implications for the Apple Watch.
Apple’s dispute revolves around a set of Remedial Orders issued by the ITC, including an exclusion order and a cease-and-desist order against certain Apple Watch models. These orders affect the sales and distribution of Apple's wearable devices with a Blood Oxygen Sensor as they seem to infringe patents of Masimo Corporation in the US.
In response, Apple sought a decision from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Exclusion Order Enforcement Branch on whether their redesigned Apple Watch models fell under these orders. The Branch concluded that the redesigned models were not subject to the Remedial Orders, prompting Apple to file a motion for a stay (a suspension of the ITC's orders) while appealing the decision. Based on this motion for a stay, the ban was temporarily lifted and allowed Apple to resume sales of these Apple Watch models.
The court's recent ruling to lift the interim stay and deny Apple's motion means that the Remedial Orders will be enforced starting 5:00 pm E.T. on January 18, 2024. This decision will lead to a temporary halt in the sales of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9 in the U.S. market, pending the outcome of the appeal.
Apple is reportedly preparing a backup plan to sell Apple Watch models with the Blood Oxygen Measurement feature disabled until a final decision is made by the relevant courts.
