The ban on Apple selling its Watch has been temporarily lifted by a court order. The tech giant will be able to distribute the watches again online and in its stores.
Apple’s three current watches are the Ultra 2, Series 9, and Series SE. The Ultra 2 is marketed towards heavy outdoors use, while the SE is the more affordable option that ditches some sensors. The SE remains on sale since it does not have the disputed tech. Watchpro reports:
Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches had been blocked since October while a dispute raised by Californian device maker Masimo, which had accused Apple of poaching its staff and technology, was considered.
The ban could be back, but is not expected to dampen overall sales of smartwatches from all makers in the United States this year.
The medical tech company Masimo triumphing against Apple was unexpected. Courts have generally ruled in favor of Big Tech over the years. Medtech Drive reports:
Masimo triumphed against Apple last month in its battle over pulse oximetry technology when the Biden administration let stand a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) decision ordering the tech giant to stop importing and selling some versions of the Apple Watch. But the victory was short-lived.
Last week, a federal appeals court granted Apple’s emergency motion to pause the ITC order while it considers the company’s request for a longer stay of the ban, according to court documents. Analysts said it is unclear how long the appeals process will take.
The case and its resolution will be interesting for broader tech trends in the world. Can smaller companies still compete with tech giants in the court system? And most importantly, how does the resolution affect consumers?
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