LOS ANGELES: Apple is pulling two of its most popular watch models from shelves this week. By Christmas Day, if a trade ruling stands, those watches will be illegal to import into the United States (US).
Online orders for the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models will end Thursday, and the watches will be cleared out of the retail stores by Sunday, which is Christmas Eve. The pause in Apple Watch sales comes as the tech giant prepares to comply with an International Trade Court (ITC) ruling that places an import ban on the products, reported German news agency (dpa).
It's the latest development in a remarkable and potentially wide-ranging patent dispute between two California tech companies, one of which happens to be the richest corporation in the world.
In late October, the International Trade Court ruled that Apple's watches contain technology that violates patents held by the Orange County-based medical tech company Masimo -- and that the infringing tech must either be removed, or the watches, which are largely manufactured in China, would be banned from import into the United States.
The ruling is the result of a David vs. Goliath legal battle that stretches back years. Joe Kiani, the CEO and founder of Masimo, has long argued that Apple's Watch products infringe on patents for his pulse oximetry technology -- tech that allows the user to take a crucial reading of oxygen levels in blood.
Apple met with his company more than a decade ago, and they discussed the technology, Kiani says, and he thought they were destined for a partnership, or, perhaps, an acquisition. Instead, Apple began to hire away his executives and top talent, who quickly began patenting similar technologies for Apple, which then began turning up in Apple Watches.
So Kiani sued. The trade court's initial ruling in January 2023 found that Apple violated Masimo's patent for pulse oximetry technology, and the October decision confirmed the earlier one. The ruling is now under presidential review, and US President Joe Biden can veto the ban. Such presidential interventions are rare, but Apple has a powerful lobbying presence on Capitol Hill.
"Maybe Apple's Board will ask Tim Cook, 'Why didn't you buy Masimo or license their technology in 2013? Did you even try to settle with Masimo before you took this step?' " Masimo's Kiani says. "That is a hope, but one that makes me feel better."
In a statement, Apple said that "While the (presidential) review period will not end until Dec 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand. This includes pausing sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple.com starting Dec 21, and from Apple retail locations after Dec 24."
The company added that "Apple's teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features. Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch is available to customers. Should the order stand, Apple will continue to take all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible."
Kiani, meanwhile, is keen to continue to press Apple further.
"Apple can avoid an ITC injunction by making their watches in the US," he tells me, pointing out that Masimo does its manufacturing in New Hampshire and Southern California. "What is in their relationship with China, that makes this not an option for Apple?"
The legal battle is far from finished, despite the fairly stunning turn of events. Apple is not used to losing legal challenges. Kiani estimates he's already spent US$60 million in legal fees on this fight, and is prepared to spend twice that. But for now, he's enjoying the victory.
"Now the world knows we are the true inventors and creators of this technology and not Apple," he says.
--BERNAMA-dpa
Bernama
Tue Dec 19 2023
Apple is pulling two of its most popular watch models from shelves this week. File photo by REUTERS/Yves Herman
'Harga purata pangsapuri baharu Malaysia cecah RM582,887 pada suku pertama'
Harga purata bagi pangsapuri baharu di Malaysia mencecah RM582,887 pada suku pertama 2024 manakala purata harga jualan bagi kediaman sekunder bernilai RM521,614.
AWANI Borneo [30/04/2024] – Kerugian RM28.6 Juta | tertembak diri sendiri | Elak kerugian
AWANI Borneo Isnin, 30 April 2025 bersama Nickyson Nyambar.
> Sarawak rekod purata 6.7 kes penipuan sehari
> Polis tunggu laporan forensik telefon bimbit anak KPD maut tertembak.
> 130,000 penduduk setinggan Sabah bakal dapat penempatan baharu.
> Sarawak rekod purata 6.7 kes penipuan sehari
> Polis tunggu laporan forensik telefon bimbit anak KPD maut tertembak.
> 130,000 penduduk setinggan Sabah bakal dapat penempatan baharu.
Negara Barat cadang henti penjualan senjata dan sekat pemindahan teknologi ke Israel
Perbincangan itu bertujuan untuk melibatkan sebanyak mungkin negara dalam pakej "elemen tekanan" yang mengandungi cadangan mengenai sekatan ruang udara.
KP SPRM sahkan MB Perlis dibebas dengan jaminan
SPRM mengesahkan Menteri Besar Perlis Mohd Shukri Ramli dibebaskan dengan jaminan selepas memberi keterangan di ibu pejabat agensi itu di sini pada Selasa.
PRN17: Pendirian UMNO Sabah ketengahkan calon
Temu bual bersama Pensyarah Kanan, Pembangunan Manusia dan Politik Identiti UMS, Prof Madya Dr Romzi Ationg mengenai pendirian UMNO Sabah dalam mengetengahkan calon pada Pilihan Raya Negeri Sabah Ke-17.
Syarikat Sweden mahu jadikan Sarawak pusat pengedaran di Asia Pasifik
Syarikat perindustrian berasaskan perniagaan hutan serta pulpa dan kertas dari Sweden, Holmen AB, berhasrat menjadikan Sarawak sebagai pusat pengedaran untuk meluaskan pasaran mereka di rantau Asia Pasifik.
SUEF kumpul RM3.57 juta bantu anak Sarawak
Dana Pendidikan Perpaduan Sarawak (SUEF) berjaya mengumpul RM3.57 juta daripada sektor korporat bagi membantu anak sarawak daripada keluarga B40 untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke pendidikan tinggi.
ECRL: Kerja alih, pindah kubur di Selat Klang ditangguh seminggu - Amirudin
Kerja penggalian dan pemindahan 90 kubur di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Selat Klang bagi memberi laluan kepada pembangunan projek ECRL yang dijadualkan esok, ditangguhkan seminggu.
KKTP Sabah kenalpasti lokasi sesuai memindahkan penduduk
KKTP Sabah kenalpasti lokasi sesuai untuk dipindahkan bagi menempatkan lebih 130,000 penduduk yang menetap di kawasan setinggan.
Sarawak rekod purata 6.7 kes penipuan sehari, kerugian RM28.6 juta
Sarawak merekodkan purata 6.7 kes penipuan sehari sejak 1 Januari hingga 31 Mac tahun ini.
Pesuruhjaya Polis Sarawak, Datuk Mancha Ata memberitahu, jumlah kerugian yang direkodkan akibat jenayah komersial ini telah menjangkau RM28.6 juta.
Pesuruhjaya Polis Sarawak, Datuk Mancha Ata memberitahu, jumlah kerugian yang direkodkan akibat jenayah komersial ini telah menjangkau RM28.6 juta.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Duta AS gesa kerajaan pertimbang adakan sesi dialog suku tahunan berkaitan peraturan
Perlu ada mekanisme perundingan yang lebih baik dalam usaha untuk menyelaraskan proses pelaksanaan peraturan.
Grab bakal disenarai di AS menerusi penggabungan, kini bernilai hampir AS$40 bilion
Grab bakal disenarai di AS menerusi penggabungan, kini bernilai hampir $40 bilion
Malaysia dapat banyak maklumat hasil vaksinasi di UK, US - Dr Noor Hisham
Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, berkata pelaksanaan di kedua-dua negara itu memberi peluang kepada Malaysia melihat kesan sampingan daripada vaksinasi COVID-19.
Hari pertama di White House, Biden bakal tarik balik larangan negara Islam
Biden merancang untuk menarik balik beberapa dasar yang diperkenalkan bawah pentadbiran Trump.
Kedutaan AS akan dapatkan penjelasan berhubung larangan masuki Malaysia
Kedutaan AS di Kuala Lumpur akan mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut daripada kerajaan Malaysia berhubung sekatan terhadap rakyat dari 23 negara termasuk AS.
Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding Dolar AS
Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding dolar US hari ini sejajar dengan harga minyak mentah global yang pulih.
Captain Marvel berjaya 'goncang' dunia, empat hari ditayang sudah raih RM1.84 bilion
Filem Captain Marvel meraih kutipan RM626 juta di AS dan kutipan global sebanyak RM1.23 bilion.
AS jual pegangan hotel untuk dapatkan semula dana 1MDB
Pegangan di dalam hotel Park Lane di New York itu dijual dengan harga kira-kira USD140 juta.
Bimbang diintip, Donald Trump henti penggunaan produk Huawei
Beberapa universiti terkemuka di Amerika Syarikat (AS) mula menghentikan penggunaan alat telekomunikasi jenama Huawei dan produk daripada mana-mana syarikat di China.