Apple Will Halt Sales Of Its Newest Watches In The US Over A Patent Dispute

If two of the latest Apple Watches are on your holiday shopping list, don’t wait too long since they won’t be available in the United States later this week unless the White House intervenes in an international patent dispute.

The company plans to stop selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 versions of its popular watch online in the United States on Thursday afternoon and in stores on Sunday. The move follows an International Trade Commission order in October banning watches with Blood Oxygen measuring capability as part of an intellectual property dispute with medical technology startup Masimo.

The White House had 60 days to review the ITC order given on Oct. 26, which meant could have continued to sell the two affected models in the United States until Christmas. However, the Cupertino, California-based company announced on Monday that it is suspending sales early to ensure compliance with the ITC order.

Apple Will Halt Sales Of Its Newest Watches In The US Over A Patent Dispute

According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the Biden administration is keeping an eye on the Apple Watch trade lawsuit. She stated that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai can make the decision and that she is “carefully considering all of the factors in this case.” Jean-Pierre stated that she did not want to speculate on Tai’s decision.

According to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, the disruption will cost Apple $300-400 million in Christmas sales. That’s a drop in the bucket for the company since experts anticipate about $120 billion in sales during the October-December period, which includes the holiday shopping season.

The sales halt on the two Apple Watch versions “doesn’t move the needle much for the company, but it couldn’t have come at a worse possible time,” according to Ives.

So far, the announced sales halt on the two watch models has had little impact on price, with the stock remaining at its record high last week.

If the ITC’s sales ban is not reversed, Apple has promised to “take all measures” to resume Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales in the United States as soon as feasible.

They Will Halt Sales Of Its Newest Watches In The US Over A Patent Dispute

The Apple Watch SE, which lacks the Blood Oxygen function, will remain available in the United States after Christmas Eve. The ITC order has no effect on already acquired Watches equipped with the Blood Oxygen sensor.

This isn’t the first patent stumbling block the Watch has encountered as it evolves into a health-management device. Last year, the ITC determined that Apple infringed on AliveCor’s wearable EKG technology, a ruling the Biden administration declined to appeal. Because another regulatory authority concluded that AliveCor’s technology isn’t patentable, the issue has yet to directly impact Apple Watch sales. The legal wrangling over that subject is still underway.

The patent issues Apple is encountering as it tries to include more medical technology into its watch models make it increasingly probable that the firm will have to start working out licensing deals or acquiring startups specializing in the space, according to Ives.

Apple Will Halt Sales Of Its Newest Watches In The US Over A Patent Dispute

The Apple Watch is a wearable smart device developed by Apple Inc. It offers various features such as fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and notification alerts. Users can make calls, send messages, and access apps directly from their wrist.

The watch is compatible with other devices and integrates with the Apple ecosystem, allowing seamless connectivity and synchronization. It comes in different models and offers customization options for personal preferences.

The device continues to evolve with new updates and advancements in technology, making it a popular choice for tech-savvy consumers.

SOURCE – (AP)