The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has upheld a judge's earlier ruling that found Apple Watch models to be in violation of patents held by medical technology company Masimo. The decision, which could potentially result in an import ban on affected Apple products, raises concerns for the tech giant. However, Apple still has options to avoid the ban.

The lawsuit was initiated by Masimo in 2021, alleging that Apple had infringed upon its patents related to light-based blood-oxygen monitoring. This particular feature was introduced by Apple in their flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 6, in 2020. The subsequent models released by Apple, such as the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in 2023, also include blood-oxygen sensors.

While Masimo's focus is primarily on the Apple Watch Series 6, it remains uncertain how the potential import ban would impact the latest Apple Watch models. It is worth noting that a federal jury trial earlier this year resulted in a mistrial regarding Masimo's allegations.

The case now moves to the White House, as President Biden's administration has a 60-day period to decide whether to veto the import ban based on policy considerations. Historically, US Presidents have rarely rejected bans imposed by the ITC. If President Biden chooses not to veto the decision, Apple retains the option to appeal the ban to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after the White House's review period expires. Apple also has the possibility of reaching a settlement agreement with Masimo or implementing software updates that work around the patented technology.

Masimo sees the ITC's ruling as a victory against a corporate giant. In response to the decision, Joe Kiani, Masimo's CEO, stated, "Today's ruling by the USITC sends a powerful message that even the world's largest company is not above the law." Kiani further added, "This important determination is a strong validation of our efforts to hold Apple accountable for unlawfully misappropriating our patented technology."

Apple, on the other hand, contends that Masimo aims to hinder potentially life-saving technology for consumers, while advancing its own product portfolio. An Apple spokesperson explained, "Masimo has wrongly attempted to use the ITC to keep a potentially lifesaving product from millions of U.S. consumers while making way for their own watch that copies Apple." Apple remains committed to appealing the decision, believing it should be reversed.

It remains to be seen how President Biden will ultimately address the import ban and if Apple will be able to avoid the potential consequences that could disrupt its sales and market presence.