In response to a U.S. ban amid an ongoing legal battle with health technology firm Masimo, Apple is set to remove the blood oxygen measuring feature from select models of its latest Apple Watches. The move is aimed at allowing the company to continue selling the devices in the United States while contesting a lawsuit from Masimo. The affected models, Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, are scheduled to be available for purchase starting Thursday, as reported by Reuters.
The dispute between Apple and Masimo stems from an October ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that found Apple’s smartwatches infringed upon Masimo’s patents. Although a U.S. appeals court temporarily lifted the import ban on December 27, the court did not overturn the ITC decision, which is currently under appeal. Apple’s decision to remove features from already-released products is unusual in the tech industry and may potentially impact customer satisfaction.
In a statement to CNBC, an Apple spokesperson explained, “Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature.”
The Apple Watch holds significant importance for the company, contributing nearly $40 billion in sales within the wearables category in 2023. This category encompasses not only watches but also headphones. Masimo alleges that Apple engaged in unfair practices by hiring its employees and using its technology to develop pulse oximetry devices for the smartwatches. The legal battle underscores the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, as emphasized by Masimo’s founder and CEO, Joe Kiani. Despite the temporary reprieve from the U.S. court, the watches remained available for purchase through various channels.
