The world’s most valued consumer tech company, Apple, has been on a roller coaster ride for the last week. First, the International Trade Commission imposed a sales/import ban on the company’s latest smartwatches (Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2). To veto the ban, the company reached out to the president’s office, but to no avail. On December 26, 2023, Apple appealed to the federal court as one of the last resorts, but this time, the coin flipped in its favor.
The Latest Apple Watches Will Return To Physical Stores In The United States
According to a report by The Verge, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are once again available in some physical stores, with wider availibility expected in a few days. Further, the company will resume online sales starting December 29, 2023. This comes after a federal appeals court paused the sales/import ban on the devices following ITC findings about the infringed patent that belonged to Masimo Corp.
Customs And Border Protection Must Rule In Favor Of Apple For The Ban To Lift
However, this is a temporary arrangement as the court is waiting to hear back on the proposed changes to the smartwatches. From what it looks like, if Apple manages to make enough hardware and software changes to avoid the patented technology, it could get rid of the ban for good. The United States Customs and Border Protection will pronounce its verdict on the changes in about two weeks, i.e., on January 12, 2024.
According to a report by Apple Insider, Apple’s appeal resulted in a delay in the ban “until the court considers and issues a full ruling on the patent infringement case” between Apple and Masimo Corp. Nonetheless, as we mentioned in the previous reports, the watches are available in the international market, including United Kingdom, India, and other regions.
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