In September of 2023, Apple announced that they would be releasing their new Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches. Shortly after the release, the watches were banned due to a patent dispute with health technology company, Masimo. As of January, 2024, the watches went back on the market without the inclusion of the newly-banned blood oxygen technology.
Apple wanted to find a way to circumvent the ban, but it was not that easy. Even though Apple intended for their blood oxygen sensors to be used for the benefit of public health, the lawsuit by Masimo shows that Apple clearly violated intellectual property rights.
Apple still believes that they can make great sales without the sensor. “There’s lots of reasons to buy the watch even without the blood oxygen sensor,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said.
Looking into the near future, Apple does not know if the blood oxygen technology will be unbanned. The Biden administration has provided clarity on their stance regarding the International Trade Commission ban, further expanding on their hesitation to remove the restriction.
The case is not going to be dismissed right away, so Apple is still able to sell the latest models of watches. However, the watches must lack the blood oxygen feature until further notice.
Apple Watches Banned?
March 13, 2024
The latest Apple Watch model is displayed at an Apple store.
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Maylani Velazquez is a junior at Crown Point High School. She decided to take the Beginning Journalism her sophomore year and accelerated to be part of the Inklings team. She realized that she wants to explore more in the social media field. She loves to meet new people and make connections. While she works in helping Inklings with Social Media platforms, she also works on working in different fields of media by doing film projects, photoshoots, and more for her portfolio. She loves to learn something new each day as she thinks if this is something she wants to pursue as a career.
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Ma’Rae Wallace is a Sophomore at Crown Point High School and Sports Writer for Inklings. This is her first year on staff. Wallace loves writing and wants to learn more about it, which is why she joined Inklings. She is also involved with Dance and Student Council. She has many interests in life and writing is one of them. Wallace thinks she can definitely see writing in her future. Writing is in her everyday life whether it's sports writing or personal writing. There's more to writing than what meets the eye and that's what Wallace is exploring.