Apple has faced many lawsuits in recent months that have raised questions about the future of its well-liked Apple Watch line. However, the business won this week. According to Reuters, an antitrust case alleging Apple had unlawfully monopolized the US market for heart rate applications for the Apple Watch was rejected by a federal judge in favor of Apple.
The case was brought in 2021 by the AI and medical device startup AliveCor. It stated that Apple had engaged in "predatory" and "exclusionary" behavior in relation to the electrocardiogram (ECG) technology of the Apple Watch, harming competition, in order to exploit its market dominance. Due to privacy issues, the judge's rationale is not immediately available, but the ruling should be made public eventually.
This case is distinct from the one that Masimo, a medical technology firm, brought. As we previously reported, a patent infringement lawsuit pertaining to the technology in the watch's blood oxygen sensor led to the US International Trade Commission (ITC) prohibiting Apple from selling the Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2. After Apple filed an appeal, a temporary stay was issued; however, the US Court of Appeals decided not to prolong the stay further in January 2024.
The corporation has been struggling over the last few months to find last-minute ways to stay out of legal trouble. For as long as supplies last, you may still purchase watches with the blood oxygen sensor intact from other stores because the prohibition only applies to Apple directly. If not, Apple has removed the sensor and has already begun distributing watches with modifications earlier this year.
AliveCor said in a statement to 9to5Mac that it intends to appeal the decision. The business also mentions that it is still in the middle of a completely other lawsuit against the ECG sensor, which will be heard in the coming months. With the goal of working together in the future, the business demonstrated its ECG sensor to Apple in 2015; nevertheless, Apple released its own ECG sensor in 2018. Apple was found to have violated AliveCor's patents by the ITC. A ban was never imposed in that case.
The ruling this week was a blow to smaller businesses trying to compete with the internet behemoth. Owners of Apple Watches may rest easy knowing that their gadgets will remain working, unlike what happened during the Masimo debate.(And even in that case, if you don't care about the blood oxygen sensor, the less expensive Watch SE was never meant to have it.) We'll keep adding to our guide to the finest Apple Watches with the most up-to-date advice available.
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