Apple’s smartwatch business is in danger in America. This $17 billion market has been overshadowed by a patent battle. The matter is related to the feature patent measuring oxygen levels. Health device manufacturing company Masimo Corp had filed a patent infringement case against Apple in the International Trade Commission (ITC).
If Apple fails to make substantive changes to its Watch models, the import ban imposed by the ITC in the matter will become effective from December 25. Then Apple will not be able to import hardware, which is used for manufacturing smartwatches sold in America.
Apple’s engineers are constantly trying to get the company out of trouble, these people are trying to make changes in the software.
Meanwhile, Apple plans to stop selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches on its website from Thursday. At the same time, the sale of watches will also stop from Apple stores from December 24. However, this ban will not be applicable on third party sales and Walmart and other sellers will be able to continue importing watches from outside.
What is the whole matter?
The whole matter is related to the technology of measuring the blood oxygen level of the user in Apple Watch. Masimo Corp claims that its patent has been infringed on the Apple Watch. Now Apple engineers are trying to change the technique of measuring oxygen saturation and presenting data to customers.
Medical device maker Masimo Corp says that software changes will not be enough; changes will have to be made to the hardware to avoid their patent.
But this entire exercise may take a lot of time, obviously if Apple has to make changes in the hardware then the supply will be affected.
The blood oxygen level feature was first added to Apple Watch in 2020, when Corona was wreaking havoc. This feature was added to Series 6 watch. Sales of Series 6 and Series 7 models have now stopped. But sales of Series 8 continue. If necessary changes are not made by December 25, then Apple will have to stop the watch sale of this series also.
In fact, due to the import ban imposed on patent appeal, it will be difficult to get the hardware items which Apple uses to make its watches.
What are Apple’s options?
The company is working on changes in both software and hardware options. But this route will take a lot of time. Then due to the import ban of ITC, things have become very difficult for hardware.
Apple may choose the path of settlement with Masimo. It is very likely that there will be tremendous bargaining for this. Edge CEO Avon Zimmerman told Bloomberg, ‘Import bans are used to gain a good position during negotiations. Such disputes are usually resolved by negotiation before the situation gets so bad.’
