Apple Watch import ban temporarily lifted by US appeals court

Apple’s latest smart watches can resume being sold in the US after the tech company filed an emergency appeal with authorities.

Apple’s latest smart watches can resume being sold in the US after the tech company filed an emergency appeal with authorities.

The iPhone maker made an emergency request to the US Court of Appeals, which proved successful in getting the ban lifted.

In a four-paragraph ruling, court officials said it would lift the restrictions while it considers Apple’s motion for a longer-term pause during the appeals process.

The court gave the ITC until January 10 to respond to Apple’s request.

“This is a big win for Apple that was unexpected by many given the legal issues involved in this patent battle,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told Sky News.

“Masimo now has a big fight ahead. We expect an appeals case in January to be a big moment.”

Sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches had been halted in the US over a patent row. Picture: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

The tech giant had been banned from selling the latest version of the Apple Watch in the US, amid claims it stole the technology from a much smaller company.

Analysts have suggested the Watch alone brings in $US23.8bn ($A34bn) according to Dow Jones Market Watch.

The ban centred around pulse oximetry technology, a broad group of technologies that measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Medical technology company Masimo has a patent for a version of pulse oximetry technology and accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing the tech and incorporating it in the Apple Watch series 6 and subsequent models.

An Apple Watch 9 displaying the blood-oxygen level detection settings. Picture: Chris Delmas / AFP

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) sided with Masimo and barred imports and sales of Apple Watches that use the technology. US president Joe Biden’s administration had until Christmas Day to reverse the ban but declined to do so.

The USITC’s decision became final on December 26, after which point Apple was banned from importing or selling Apple Watches that use pulse oximetry technology allegedly stolen from Masimo.

Patents are territorial and thus the ban did not impact countries outside the US.

This latest ruling is good news for Apple who reportedly received $US39.8 billion ($A58.3bn) in revenue during 2023 for wearables which includes the Apple Watch, Air Pods and other accessories.

— with Chloe Whelan

Originally published as Apple Watch import ban temporarily lifted by US appeals court