Apple dodges new import ban on redesigned Watches

Apple dodged a second import ban on its redesigned Apple Watches, as the U.S. International Trade Commission terminated the case and allowed the devices with a reworked blood-oxygen monitoring feature to stay on shelves. The ITC’s decision references a March preliminary ruling that Apple’s redesigned sensors do not infringe Masimo’s patents, effectively closing the door on Masimo’s latest bid to halt imports.

The firefight between Masimo and Apple stretches back to 2021, when Masimo first claimed Apple Watches violated its patents and sought an import ban. After the ITC initially ruled in Masimo’s favor, Apple redesigned the heart-rate and blood-oxygen monitoring tech on newer models. The latest ruling upholds that redesign, with the ITC concluding there’s no infringement in the updated devices. Apple celebrated the outcome, while Masimo pressed its case for further legal action. The company’s statement, in line with other patent fights, framed the decision as part of a broader campaign against Apple; Masimo has long argued that its innovations are being used without proper compensation.

What this means for consumers is a snapshot of how big patent disputes can shape what’s in the box. For months, the industry watched whether Apple could continue to ship watches with the changed blood-oxygen sensor without facing another import ban. The ITC ruling signals that, for now, Apple can proceed with the redesigned sensor as part of its watch lineup, at least from a U.S. import perspective. Masimo’s next move is uncertain; the company retains the option to appeal the decision, a path that could extend the dispute through courts even as Apple’s product cadence continues on retail shelves.

From a practitioner’s lens, several concrete threads emerge. First, the case highlights how hardware teams respond to patent risk: when a regulator flags infringement, reengineering a feature—especially something as sensitive as health sensors—often involves tradeoffs in accuracy, power consumption, and calibration. In Apple’s case, the goal is to preserve the user experience while avoiding patent claims, a tightrope that can affect real-world performance in motion-heavy conditions or low-light environments. Second, even with a favorable ITC outcome, IP risk remains endemic in wearables. A revived appeal or separate suits elsewhere can still influence future product plans or licensing discussions, and manufacturers should plan for ongoing patent chatter as a cost of doing business in a fast-evolving field. Third, for consumers weighing a purchase, this ruling reduces near-term disruption risk: the latest redesigned models can be sold without the immediate fear of an import ban interrupting supply. But buyers should stay mindful that legal battles can linger, potentially affecting feature parity across regions or future upgrades.

The ruling also underscores a broader market dynamic: health-sensor features on wearables sit at the intersection of consumer electronics and medical tech, where patent protection and regulatory scrutiny collide. Apple’s ability to navigate this space without another import ban may embolden similar redesigns in the next generation of wearables—but it also keeps Masimo’s IP portfolio in play, reminding buyers that even beloved products aren’t immune to protracted legal wrestling.

In short, Apple’s redesigned Watches survive a second import ban bid for now, with the door open for an appeal that could redraw the legal landscape in the years ahead.

Sources

Apple avoids a second import ban for its redesigned smartwatches in latest court ruling