Apple Watch Series 9 Ban: ITC Denies Cupertino's Delay Request, Falls on POTUS Biden

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 20 December 2023, 08:12 pm

The ban for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is still a go, and this was because of the latest development from the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) which denied this request.

As part of Apple's last attempts to prevent its latest wearables from facing suspension and getting removed from the market, the company appealed to the court, but to no avail.

Apple Watch Series 9 Ban: ITC Denies Cupertino's Delay Request

(Photo : Apple)

A filing earlier today has revealed that Apple's request to delay the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2's ban on the market has been denied by the ITC, upholding its iron hand against the company's mishap. It was reported by The Verge that Apple first filed this appeal last October 30, centering on the "potential government shutdown" that Apple is facing now.

ITC's ruling was initially set in stone last October, declaring that Apple would face a ban on selling its latest releases of wearable technology, particularly on models that infringed on Masimo's patent.

For the reasons discussed in the Commission Opinion issued concurrently herewith, the Commission has determined to deny Apple's motion to stay the remedial orders pending appeal and/or in light of a potential government shutdown, and it has done so without reliance on the materials of which Complainants requested the Commission take judicial notice.

President Joe Biden is the Only Way to Stop Apple Watch Ban

For now, Apple's last and only hope is for President Joe Biden to veto the ruling, and this will lead to the Apple Watches seeing a delay for now. However, this veto would not guarantee that the Apple Watches will remain in the market like previous models who have stayed for a long time until their new versions came.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Ban Saga

Back in the September 2023 Fall event, a.k.a. the Wonderlust, Apple unveiled their latest take on the smartwatch wearables that centered on two versions seeing new releases. This is with the Apple Watch Series 9 from its regular lineup, alongside the professional and adventure-centered version, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which both featured the latest it has to offer.

However, these devices, while being the most advanced and feature-packed from the company's releases, also faced controversies with their release, centering on the potential import ban upheld by the ITC. The proceedings and its lawsuit escalated to massive findings in court, with Masimo seeking out the removal of the Apple Watch which allegedly infringed on its blood oxygen monitoring technology.

Now, Apple is facing the impending import ban, with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 only waiting several days to weeks before it is completely removed from the market. And while the ITC denied Cupertino's request to delay this impending doom for the wearable tech, there is still a chance for the company, and that is for POTUS Biden's veto on the ruling.