Apple Scrambles To Make Software Changes To Overcome Apple Watch Ban

Photo 291169208 © Ifeelstock | Dreamstime.com

The Apple Watch is ticking! In a race against time, the Cupertino giant is updating its software with the aim of dodging a looming US import ban on its latest Apple Watch models.

The abrupt move follows a US International Trade Commission (ITC) decision that found Apple infringed on patents owned by Masimo, a medical technology company. The spotlight is on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, which face a potential sales ban in the country starting from December 21 online and December 24 in retail stores.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple's engineering team is hard at work revising the algorithms responsible for the blood oxygen measurement feature in the Apple Watch. This initiative is a critical attempt to sidestep Masimo’s patents and maintain the presence of Apple Watch models in the US market.

The legal tussle dates back to 2020 when Masimo accused Apple of infringing its patents through the pulse oximeter feature in the Apple Watch. Following this, the ITC recommended an import ban.

Masimo insisted that the issue could only be rectified through hardware modifications in future Apple Watch iterations. Contrarily, Apple is betting on a software solution to meet US Customs’ compliance and circumvent the ban.

This development is pivotal for the tech behemoth, as the smartwatch models are vital components of its product lineup, especially during the lucrative holiday shopping season.

There remains a glimmer of hope for Apple, though, and that’s the final say by the Joe Biden administration, which will review whether the devices stay or go by December 25.

This limbo is reminiscent of a similar situation in 2013 involving a dispute between Apple and Samsung. During the Obama Administration, a patent feud between both companies led to an ITC ruling favoring the South Korean company and proposing a ban on certain older iPhone and iPad models. However, in a rare intervention, President Obama’s team vetoed the prohibition, citing concerns over patent holders misusing standard essential patents to unfairly dominate the market and stifle competition and innovation in the technology sector.

So, whether or not your loved ones bless you with an all-new Apple Watch with a blood oxygen monitor built in hinges on the Biden administration.

[via MacRumors, PCMag, AppleInsider, Bloomberg, cover photo 291169208 © Ifeelstock | Dreamstime.com]