Published on April 18, 2026
Apple recently celebrated a significant legal victory as the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against reinstating an import ban on its redesigned smartwatches. This decision allows Apple to continue marketing devices featuring updated blood-oxygen monitoring technology, ensuring its operations remain unaffected for the time being.
The ruling follows a complex legal battle with Masimo, a medical technology company that claimed Apple infringed on its patents. In March, an ITC judge had already indicated that Apple’s new smartwatch models did not violate Masimo’s intellectual property, prompting the latest decision to terminate the case. Apple expressed gratitude for the ITC’s ruling, highlighting the relentless nature of Masimo’s legal endeavors.
This latest judgment may bring some resolution to the ongoing dispute that began in 2021, when Masimo first sought an import ban on Apple Watches. Although Apple previously faced a ruling against it regarding patent violations, the rejection of Masimo’s recent bid marks a pivotal moment in the prolonged dispute. Masimo now has the option to appeal this latest decision in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Despite this setback, Masimo continues to challenge Apple on various fronts. A November ruling by a federal jury mandated that Apple pay $634 million in damages for a separate patent infringement case. This multi-faceted legal conflict signals that while Apple has achieved a temporary victory, the war over smartwatch technology is far from over.
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