Masimo, an Irvine-based global medical technology company, has emerged victorious after challenging iPhone manufacturer Apple Inc. over a patent dispute filed with the International Trade Commission. As part of the ruling, Apple has been forced to halt sales of its two newest smartwatch models.

On Monday, Dec. 18, Apple announced that due to the ITC’s ruling in October, the company would pause online and retail sales of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 in the U.S. after 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 21.

In a statement to Irvine Weekly, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, a Masimo spokesperson explained that the ITC ruling was the result of a “thorough multi-year legal investigation” in which Apple was found to have infringed on Masimo’s patented innovations for measuring blood oxygen.

“The decision to exclude certain foreign-made models of the Apple Watch demonstrates that even the world’s most powerful company must abide by the law,” Masimo wrote in a statement to Irvine Weekly. “The ITC’s expert judgment in this matter should be respected, protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining public trust in the United States’ patent system and encouraging US industry.”

The original complaint, filed by Masimo in June 2021, alleged that Apple had violated the use of two of Masimo’s blood oxygen sensors patents. In January, an ITC judge ruled in favor of Masimo’s complaints, a ruling that was again upheld by a secondary judge in October.

However, despite Masimo’s complaints, the patents were used by Apple inside the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9, which debuted earlier this year on September 22.

“A Presidential Review Period is in progress regarding an order from the U.S. International Trade Commission on a technical intellectual property dispute pertaining to Apple Watch devices containing the Blood Oxygen feature. While the review period will not end until December 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand,” a statement read.

Additionally, Apple’s statement assured U.S. customers that the company was looking to resolve its halt of sales as quickly as possible.

“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 U.S. as soon as possible.”

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