Apple Appeals Import Ban on Watches

As expected, the U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) decision to ban imports and sales of Apple Watches that use technology for reading blood-oxygen levels went into effect Tuesday after President Joe Biden's administration declined to veto the ITC's decision.

Not surprisingly, the Cupertino-based tech giant promptly filed an appeal. The ban impacts the company's newest Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Apple has included the pulse oximeter feature in its watches starting with its Apple Watch Series 6 released in 2020.

The ITC ruled in October that Apple infringed two patents owned by Masimo.

Apple preemptively halted sales
of the impacted devices last Thursday, but consumers could still buy them in stores depending on available inventory until Sunday.

Since 2005, the Office of the United States Trade Representative has been delegated the President’s authority under to review the ITC’s decision for a 60-day period. In the case of ITC's decision to ban infringing Apple Watches, the government decided not to reverse the decision, and the decision became final Tuesday.