Apple Watch sales could be banned again in the US and Apple could avoid it by disabling this feature
Apple has a major patent issue that has caused sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to be halted in the United States for a few weeks. Apple managed to temporarily cripple the ban, but the deadline will expire soon and it appears that the company will once again be forced to remove them from the market.
The problem, it seems, is that Apple infringes on Masimo patents in the algorithms used in the application which measures the level of oxygen in the blood using the Apple Watch sensors. The company previously sued Apple years ago for violating up to 10 patents on the Apple Watch, without success so far.
Apple does not seem willing to collaborate with Masimo or pay for its patents and therefore has only one solution in case the courts force it to stop sales again: remove blood oxygen measurement function Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple Watch Series 9 includes sensor to measure blood oxygen level that infringes Masimo patents
Apple tried to appeal this decision but its arguments seem too weak, according to the United States International Trade Commission
Everything seems to be heading towards agreement between Apple and Masimo for the use of these patents and we will see if Apple wants to fight to the end. A new victory for Masimo, which once again paralyzes sales of the Apple Watch Series and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States, will give it a very strong position in this possible negotiation.
The Blood Oxygen app is available on Apple Watch Series 6
In the event that Apple Watch sales in the United States stop again, Apple could continue selling them without reading blood oxygen level data. The new models would arrive with a version of watchOS that does not have this function, although this should not affect the Apple Watch sold which already integrates this function, available since the Apple Watch Series 6.
Additionally, when the conflict with Masimo is resolved Apple could release an update that re-enables this important health feature. We will see how everything is resolved, although Apple already seems prepared for the worst.
