U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Opposes Apple’s Request for Sales Ban on Apple Watch
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has rejected Apple’s motion for a sales ban on the Apple Watch during the company’s ongoing appeal. ITC lawyers have criticized Apple’s arguments, describing them as weak and unconvincing. They claim that the company is essentially requesting permission to continue infringing on patents.
The ITC is now accepting responses from other parties in support of their ruling until January 15. This move comes after the ITC imposed an import and sales ban on certain Apple Watch models in October. The ban was a result of claims made by medical technology company Masimo, which accused Apple of patent infringement and stealing trade secrets.
Masimo’s allegations also included the claim that Apple had poached its employees for the development of its blood oxygen sensing feature. As a result, Apple voluntarily halted the sales of affected Apple Watch models in December. However, the ban was temporarily paused after Apple appealed the ITC’s ruling.
To comply with the alleged patent infringement, Apple is said to be working on software changes. However, Masimo believes that hardware design changes are necessary for full compliance. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is expected to make a ruling on these changes soon.
The ITC has expressed doubt over Apple’s reliance on a favorable ruling from Customs and Border Protection. They argue that such a ruling would not determine the likelihood of success in terms of the merits of Apple’s case.
The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for both parties involved. Apple is one of the leading technology companies worldwide, and a sales ban on the Apple Watch could have a severe impact on their business. Masimo, on the other hand, is fighting to protect its patents and maintain a competitive edge in the medical technology industry.
As the ITC continues to review this case, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. Both companies will undoubtedly be closely monitoring the responses from other parties and eagerly await the ruling from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. Watch this space for further updates on the Apple Watch sales ban saga.
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