Apple fends off renewed Apple Watch import ban attempt
In a significant development for Apple and its popular Apple Watch wearable lineup, a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) administrative law judge has issued a preliminary ruling that the company’s redesigned Apple Watch models do not infringe on patents held by medical technology firm Masimo Corporation. The decision rejects Masimo’s latest attempt to impose a renewed import ban on the smartwatches, providing Apple with a key legal reprieve in a years-long battle over blood-oxygen monitoring technology.
The ruling, made public on Thursday, March 19, 2026, by Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya, found no direct infringement by Apple’s “Redesign 2 Watch” on Masimo’s patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 10,912,502 and 10,945,648), which relate to light-based pulse oximetry. The judge also determined that Apple does not induce infringement when the redesigned watch is paired with an iPhone for use in the United States.
This preliminary determination stems from an enforcement proceeding initiated after Apple modified its Apple Watch following a 2023 ITC import ban on certain models, including the Series 9 and Ultra 2. That earlier ban, which took effect after presidential review, forced Apple to disable or remove the blood-oxygen feature in U.S.-sold devices to resume imports. Apple later reintroduced an updated version of the technology in August 2025, with approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, prompting Masimo to challenge the workaround as still violative.
The ITC judge’s finding marks a win for Apple in this specific enforcement action, allowing the tech giant to continue importing and selling its current Apple Watch models without immediate disruption. However, the decision is preliminary—the full ITC commission must review and decide whether to affirm it. A final ruling could come in the coming months.
Adding complexity to the saga, on the same day as the ITC preliminary ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a separate precedential opinion affirming the ITC’s original 2023 infringement findings against Apple’s unmodified watches. The appeals court found no error in the commission’s determinations on domestic industry, patent validity, or infringement, upholding the basis for the prior ban. Despite this affirmation of the historical ruling, Apple’s redesigned implementation appears to have successfully circumvented the issues, as noted by legal analysts and reports from sources like Reuters and Bloomberg Law.
The dispute dates back several years, originating from allegations that Apple incorporated Masimo’s patented pulse oximetry technology (used for non-invasive blood-oxygen level measurements) without permission. Masimo, known for its medical monitoring devices, has argued that Apple’s feature infringes its intellectual property, while Apple has maintained that its designs are independent and that the case represents an attempt to hinder competition.
Apple representatives have described Masimo’s efforts as meritless, and the company has continued to innovate in health features on the Apple Watch, which remains a cornerstone of its wearable ecosystem. Masimo has not immediately commented on the latest developments, but the company could seek further appeals or adjustments in the ongoing litigation.
For consumers and investors, the preliminary ruling provides reassurance that Apple Watch availability in the U.S. market is unlikely to face near-term interruptions.
The full ITC review will be closely watched, as it could set precedents for how redesigned products are evaluated in section 337 trade investigations.
In the meantime, Apple continues to dominate the smartwatch category, with the Apple Watch serving millions of users for fitness tracking, health monitoring, and everyday connectivity.
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Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/03/20/apple-fends-off-renewed-apple-watch-import-ban-attempt/
