Discover Apple’s Exciting Options to Keep Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in Stores!
Apple is facing a ban on selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 devices in the US starting from December 21st. This ban is due to a patent infringement issue with the pulse oximeter feature on the watches. The affected devices will no longer be available in Apple Stores from December 21st and online sales will stop on December 24th. However, the ban does not affect the second-generation Apple Watch SE as it does not feature a pulse oximeter.
President Biden has until December 25th to veto the import ban, and if he does not, Apple plans to appeal the ruling with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The company is also working on making changes to the pulse oximeter algorithms to avoid infringing on the patent issue.
One way to resolve the situation would be for Apple to license the technology from the patent holder, Massimo. However, the two companies have not yet discussed a settlement or licensing deal. If the ban remains in place, Apple has stated that it will take all measures to return the affected watches to customers in the US as soon as possible.
The ban on Apple Watch sales has caused a stir in the market, with Apple’s shares declining by 1% and Massimo’s shares soaring by 3.2%. The affected watches are said to have generated $16.9 billion in sales, making the ban a significant blow to Apple’s smartwatch business.
While the import ban is a setback for Apple, the company is actively exploring its options to resolve the issue and bring the popular Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 back to the US market. As the clock ticks down to the December 25th deadline, all eyes are on President Biden’s decision regarding the import ban.