Apple to redesign smartwatches to bypass US import ban

The news: A US law enforcement agency has allowed Apple to redesign its newer Apple Watch models to bypass an import ban stemming from its patent infringement dispute with medical monitoring technology company Masimo.

The numbers: The import ban applies to Apple's current Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches and was initially imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) with effect from 26 December. Apple convinced the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to pause the ban the next day, and has since resumed selling the watches as it contests the ruling. The business generates roughly USD17 billion a year.

The context: According to a court filing by Masimo, Apple has proposed to the US Customs and Border Protection agency that it will redesign the models to remove the pulse oximetry functionality, allowing it to circumvent findings that the watches infringe Masimo's blood-oxygen reading pulse oximetry patents. The California-based Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology to use in Apple Watches after discussing a potential collaboration. The Federal Circuit is still considering whether to continue the pause or reinstate the ban, which would apply to Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches with pulse oximetry technology that do not have the redesign.