Due to U.S. ITC decision to infringe on patent for oxygen saturation measurement technology
Prospects for appeals based on experience winning ECG technology patent litigation appeals
Watch sales amount to 499 trillion won, or only 4.7% of Apple’s total sales.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 18th that Apple will stop online sales of Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting on the 21st (local time) following a patent infringement decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The ban on commercial sales is not expected to take effect until Christmas Eve.
Last October, the ITC determined that Apple had infringed on Masimosa’s patents related to blood oxygen saturation sensors, a medical technology. Masimosa filed a lawsuit in 2021, claiming that Apple’s pulse oximetry measurement function, which Apple has been applying to its watches since 2020, infringed on its patent.
Sales may actually surge before sales are halted due to Apple’s decision to discontinue sales. Additionally, President Joe Biden could order a review of the ITC’s decision by Christmas. According to Masimosa, Apple is pushing the U.S. government to overturn the ITC decision.
Meanwhile, instead of discontinuing sales, Apple reached an agreement with Masimo to pay royalties and continue selling the product or sell it through a software update that removes Masimo’s technology, but decided to discontinue sales.
Apple Watch accounted for nearly 60% of electronic watch market sales last year, but only 4.7% of Apple’s total sales. Apple’s sales this year are estimated at $383 billion (about 499 trillion won).
Apple initially considered a merger with Mashmosa, but canceled it and hired Mashmosa’s engineers to develop the technology.
Apple also lost a patent infringement lawsuit filed in 2018 by Aliveco, which developed electrocardiogram measurement technology, but appealed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and postponed the order to stop sales. Aliveco appealed this decision and the lawsuit is currently in progress.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.