Apple halts US smartwatch sales over patent dispute

Apple on Monday said it is going to stop selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the United States as it faces a patent dispute over the feature that measures users' blood oxygen content.

The company said it will pause watch sales starting Dec. 21 and from other retail locations after Dec. 24 after the U.S. International Trade Commission said in October that it would ban imports of Apple Watches by Dec. 26 because they may violate the patent rights of medical technology company Masimo, according to Reuters.  

President Joe Biden may review the decision until Dec. 25, but Apple said it is taking precautions if the ruling remains. The company also said it believes the trade commission's finding was problematic and should be reversed and that it will appeal the decision to a federal court. 

Maismo, meanwhile, accused Apple of recruiting its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology to put into the Apple Watch.

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