The US International Trade Commission issued an order that could bar Apple (AAPL.O) from importing its Apple Watches after finding the devices violate medical technology company Masimo’s patent rights.
The full commission upheld a judge’s ruling from January that Apple violated Masimo’s rights in light-based technology for reading blood-oxygen levels.
The decision will not have an immediate effect since it now faces presidential review and possible appeals.
President Joe Biden’s administration will have 60 days to decide whether to veto the import ban based on policy concerns before it goes into effect. Presidents have rarely vetoed bans in the past.
Apple can appeal the ban to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after the review period ends.
“Masimo has wrongly attempted to use the ITC to keep a potentially lifesaving product from millions of US consumers while making way for their own watch that copies Apple,” an Apple spokesperson said. “While today’s decision has no immediate impact on sales of Apple Watch, we believe it should be reversed, and will continue our efforts to appeal.”
