Why are Apple Watches Being Banned? The Patent Infringement Story

Cheater – cheater compulsive eater!! That is what Apple has been cursed with this Christmas. The International Trade Union of the United States ordered the tech giant Apple to stop once and for all the sale of Apple wearables and also stopped the product’s import to the U.S. But why are Apple watches being banned all of a sudden, even though the company has dominated the market for a fair share of time?

The whole story behind the ban imposed on Apple smartwatches is linked with a medicinal technology brand in the U.S. named Masimo. Based in Irvine, California, Masimo is known for its patient monitoring devices used in hospitals and even by people in their homes. Not only that, but Masimo is also responsible for a huge percentage of international exports in medical machinery.

But what could a medicinal firm have to do with the greatest tech giant of all time? Moreover, with the ban on one of their most selling product. To uncover that, you will have to read and understand why are apple watches being banned in the USA till the end of this article.

Why Are Apple Watches Being Banned – Apple Vs Masimo

The reason for banning Apple watches in the United States is nothing else but a patent infringement suit. This suit was filed by Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories against the Apple brand, where Masimo accused Apple of stealing its technology for the Apple watch. Yes, the tech giant is accused of stealing the idea behind tech. 

But the twist appeared after the October hearing when President Joe Biden’s administration took it to their hands and called for a 60 day deciding time if they want to veto/ reverse the order. On the day of Christmas, which was this Tuesday, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office declared that they would not tamper with the decision and let the company pay its dues. This patent infringement suit filed against the Apple company by Masimo and Cercacor Labs is the sole answer to our “Why are Apple watches being banned” query.

Which Products Face The Ban?

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are the products in question. Now, it is obvious that not every product that is made by Apple will face the consequences of the suit. But there are some specific products that, even at present, contain the infringed technology but in Apple’s name when they should be Masimo’s. Moreover, Apple also filed two complaints against Masimo regarding the same infringement issue last year, right after Masimo launched its own smartwatch last year for which the verdicts are pending yet. 

Wrapping Up

I hope this article was able to enlighten you on why are apple watches being banned in the United States all of a sudden. The up-to-date story is available in this article regarding the matter and it will be further updated as soon as there is more to know on the case. If you are following the story with enthusiasm, I would suggest you follow this article, as nowhere else will you find more updated news about the Apple vs Masimo story.

Frequently Asked Questions