Apple will stop selling Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US – Kommersant
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Apple will remove Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches from sale in the United States by the end of December, the portal reported. 9to5Mac. The American technology giant took this step after losing a patent dispute.
In October 2023, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) upheld a January court ruling that Apple had infringed a patent from medical technology company Masimo. The reason for the dispute was the blood oxygen sensor, which is used in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The results of the patent dispute between Apple and Masimo were submitted to the Joe Biden administration for consideration – within 60 days, the presidential administration has the right to veto the implementation of the ITC decision. The review period expires on December 25, but Apple announced in advance that it would suspend sales of products with the controversial technology.
From December 21, Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 will no longer be available for purchase on Apple’s official website, and from December 24, these smartwatch models will be unavailable in the company’s official retail stores. Selling accessories to other resellers is not prohibited, but from December 25, if the ITC decision comes into force, Apple will not be able to supply Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 to other retail outlets.
According to information Bloomberg, Apple hopes to avoid a ban on the sale of its flagship smartwatch. The company intends to change the software for measuring blood oxygen levels so as not to infringe Masimo’s patents and thereby keep the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 on sale. At the same time, Masimo emphasizes that the disputed patents are mainly related to technical solutions, and not to software, so software updates may not be enough to keep the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in their current form on the market.
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