Apple Watch Evades Import Ban Amid Ongoing Patent Dispute with Masimo
In a significant development within the tech industry, Apple has successfully circumvented an import ban on its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models, despite a recent court ruling affirming that these devices infringe upon patents held by medical technology company Masimo. This outcome underscores the intricate interplay between innovation, intellectual property rights, and regulatory frameworks.
Background of the Dispute
The contention centers on the blood-oxygen monitoring feature integrated into Apple’s smartwatches. Masimo alleges that Apple unlawfully incorporated its pulse oximetry technology into these devices, leading to a series of legal confrontations. In December 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) imposed an import ban on the affected Apple Watch models, citing patent infringement. This decision compelled Apple to halt sales of these products in the U.S., significantly impacting its wearables market.
Apple’s Strategic Response
In response to the ITC’s ruling, Apple initially disabled the blood-oxygen monitoring feature in the U.S. market to comply with the ban. However, by August 2025, Apple introduced a technical workaround: while the sensors continued to collect blood-oxygen data, the processing of this information was shifted entirely to a paired iPhone, with results displayed exclusively on the phone’s screen. Apple contended that this redesign circumvented the patent infringement issues identified by the ITC.
Regulatory and Legal Developments
The ITC reviewed Apple’s redesign and, in a recent ruling, determined that the modified devices no longer infringed upon Masimo’s patents, thereby lifting the import ban. This decision allows Apple to resume the sale of its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in the U.S. without further interruption. Despite this regulatory approval, the legal battle between Apple and Masimo persists. A federal appeals court recently upheld the original 2023 ruling that Apple had violated Masimo’s patents, affirming the validity of Masimo’s claims. Additionally, in November 2025, a federal jury awarded Masimo $634 million in damages for patent infringement. Apple is currently appealing this financial penalty, maintaining that Masimo’s allegations are unfounded.
Implications and Future Outlook
This ongoing dispute highlights the complexities inherent in protecting intellectual property within the rapidly evolving tech industry. While Apple’s strategic redesign has temporarily mitigated the impact of the import ban, the underlying patents at the heart of this controversy are set to expire in less than three years. Upon expiration, Apple may have the opportunity to reintegrate full on-device blood-oxygen processing capabilities into its smartwatches without legal repercussions. For the time being, U.S. consumers will need to rely on their iPhones to access blood-oxygen data collected by their Apple Watches.
