In response to two Irvine, California-based companies that filed a lawsuit alleging healthcare patent infringement, the Biden administration has chosen to keep the import restriction on certain Apple watches in place.
An earlier ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found that Apple, Inc. had infringed upon two patents on a blood oxygen sensor that could measure an individual’s pulse, which was held by Masimo Corporation and Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
With the president’s delegated authority, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai examined the matter and decided not to overturn the ITC’s ruling; so, as of December 26, 2023, the ITC’s judgment is final.
As a result of the ITC’s decision, Apple announced that it will no longer be selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models of its well-known watch.
Although presidents can reverse ITC import restriction decisions in a matter of 60 days, this is not a common occurrence. In 2013, former President Barack Obama used this power to stop a ban on specific iPhones and iPads.
President Biden declined to reverse a comparable patent decision between Apple and AliveCor, a different medical device business, earlier this year. But at the moment, the corporations’ ongoing legal battle has put an end to the import prohibition. Furthermore, a deal between the rival companies prevented a presidential ruling in an earlier ITC dispute involving batteries for electric vehicles in 2021.
This article originally appeared on https://www.politico.com/
PC:Google