Apple Watch Avoids U.S. Import Ban After Court Ruling

Apple has successfully avoided a potential import ban on its Apple Watch models following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which upheld a previous decision that three patents owned by AliveCor related to EKG technology are unpatentable. This legal battle began in 2021 when AliveCor accused Apple of infringing on its patents, leading to an initial ruling in AliveCor's favor that proposed a ban on Apple Watch imports. However, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board later found that the patents lacked validity, allowing Apple to appeal the ITC's recommendation for a ban. AliveCor expressed disappointment with the court's decision and indicated that it would explore further legal options to defend its patent claims. Apple welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its commitment to developing innovative health technologies for users. The resolution of this case is particularly significant given past disputes that nearly led to similar outcomes for Apple products.