---
title: "Apple Company files Appeal in US court to halt ban on its Watch import"  
description: "Apple Loses Bid to Sell Latest Watches in US: SpO2 Sensor Patent Dispute Bites"  
author: "Saumya Mishra"  
published: 2023-12-27  
updated: 2023-12-27  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3671/apple-company-files-appeal-in-us-court-to-halt-ban-on-its-watch-import  
category: "technology"  
tags: ["apple", "usa", "watches"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Apple Company files Appeal in US court to halt ban on its Watch import

[**Apple**](https://www.mindstick.com/category/blog/apple)**'s hopes of bringing the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 back to US shelves have been dashed, as the [Biden administration](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/82219/what-are-the-daunting-challenges-that-are-inherited-by-the-biden-administration) declined to veto an import and sales ban on the wearables.** This follows a patent infringement ruling in October, siding with medical-[tech](https://www.mindstick.com/services/technologies) company Masimo over Apple's blood oxygen ([SpO2](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/83803/what-is-the-usage-of-oximeter)) monitoring technology.

## Key Highlights:

- **Declined Appeal:** The Biden administration chose not to overturn the US [International Trade](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/86375/what-you-should-know-about-international-trade-fair-2023) Commission's (ITC) ruling that Apple's SpO2 sensors infringe on Masimo patents.
- **Ongoing Fight:** Apple is appealing the ban in [federal court](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/32911/how-are-jurors-contacted-for-service-in-federal-court-in-the-usa) and seeking a temporary stay while it designs new sensors.
- **Limited Impact:** The ban only affects Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models with SpO2 sensors, not the budget-friendly Watch SE.

**Patent Dispute:** The saga began in October when the ITC ruled that Apple's SpO2 technology violated patents held by **Masimo**. This prompted Apple to temporarily halt US sales of the affected watches.

**Presidential Review:** Under US law, President Biden had 60 days to review the ITC decision and potentially veto it. However, on December 26, the [White House](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1232/white-house-discussion-on-software-security-participant-apple-amazon-google-ibm-meta-executives) announced its decision not to intervene.

**Apple's Response:** Undeterred, Apple immediately filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The company is also requesting a temporary stay on the ban, hoping to continue sales at least until it revises its sensor design by January 12.

**Limited Scope:** Importantly, the ban only applies to [Watch Series](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/86055/apple-watch-series-9-product-review) 9 and Ultra 2 models with SpO2 sensors. The popular Watch SE, which lacks this feature, remains unaffected and available for purchase.

![Apple Company files Appeal in US court to halt ban on its Watch import](https://www.mindstick.com/usernews/655071/19bf2cb4-8c36-49a8-bb94-590b2c9fe28e/images/2399cb63-8d44-4f81-8661-1d7fc897bcac.jpg)

**Future Uncertain**: The legal battle is far from over, and it remains uncertain as to when or if Apple will be able to return its high-end watches to the American market. This case illustrates the multifaceted nature of relations between [technological innovation](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/114896/how-can-we-balance-personal-privacy-with-technological-innovation-ethically) and [intellectual property](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2246/know-these-important-facts-on-intellectual-property-law) rights.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3671/apple-company-files-appeal-in-us-court-to-halt-ban-on-its-watch-import

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