The saga of the Apple Watch sales ban unfolded rapidly in the past week. Now, a new development: the US Court of Appeals has temporarily lifted the ban on sales and imports. Consequently, the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are back on the market.
“We’re excited to reintroduce the entire Apple Watch range to customers just in time for the new year,” shared an Apple spokesperson with TechRadar. We’re grateful to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for pausing the exclusion order as it reviews our request during the full appeal process.
These watches are once again available at “select” Apple Stores and will resume online sales on December 28 at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET (8 pm in the UK, and early December 29 in Australia). Stock is expected in all Apple Stores by the weekend.
The duration of this sales ban pause remains uncertain. A crucial date to watch is January 10, the deadline for the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to respond to Apple’s appeal. This commission initially triggered Apple’s decision to halt the smartwatches’ sales.
Crucial Events
This centers around an ongoing lawsuit initiated by Masimo, a tech company, throughout the year. Masimo contends that Apple’s watches violate existing patents related to blood oxygen sensor technology, causing substantial challenges for Apple and its wearable sales.
As per 9to5Mac, Apple has proposed a software remedy in an attempt to navigate the patent dispute. A determination on the effectiveness of this update is scheduled for January 12, making January a hectic month for Apple News.
The complete prohibition on US sales and imports of the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 took effect on December 25, Christmas Day. The White House opted not to intervene and reverse the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ruling.
It’s crucial to note that all actions taken so far are preemptive. A definitive judgment on whether Apple is right or wrong remains pending. Nevertheless, the looming threat of a ban significantly impacts sales and potential services for Apple.
