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A recent choice made by President Biden might lead to the Apple Watch being outlawed. It's unlikely that the gadget will be taken off store shelves, though.
Following a patent dispute over the Apple Watch's ECG capability, a recent decision by Vice President Biden might pave the way for a potential ban on the device in the United States. According to IDC, the Apple Watch had a 29.8% global market share as of Q3, 2022, making it the most popular smart wearable in the world. The ECG capability first appeared in the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018 and later spread to rival wearables like the Google Pixel Watch and more recent iterations of the Samsung Galaxy Watch, among others.
AliveCor reported that President Biden rejected to overturn an International Trade Commission (ITC) decision that concluded Apple infringed on ECG patents owned by a California-based medical technology business known as AliveCor. When the ITC issued a Limited Exclusion Order (LEO) and a cease-and-desist order on the sale of Apple Watches in December of last year, the organization made its decision. Apple was accused of violating AliveCor's ECG patent through unauthorized use of the technology in its smartwatches.
Ban on Apple Watch possibly
Three years prior to its debut in the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2015, AliveCor claims it first shared its ECG technology with Apple. Since then, the technology has been incorporated into every Apple Watch model that has come after, including the most recent model, the Apple Watch Ultra. AliveCor CEO Priya Abani praised the ITC's ultimate decision in a statement and asserted that it will have effects that go beyond the specifics of this case.
On the surface, it appears as though an Apple Watch ban in the US is only a matter of time. But, before the ITC's order can take effect, AliveCor needs to resolve additional difficulties. AliveCor's ECG patents, which Apple is alleged to have violated, were previously invalidated by the United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Since then, AliveCor has appealed the decision, and the Board is now debating whether or not the company's arguments are strong. The Apple Watch will continue to be offered for sale in the nation if the board's initial decision is affirmed. If the decision favors AliveCor, it could cause problems for Apple.
Regardless of these judgments, it is unlikely that the Apple Watch will be taken from the shelves. If AliveCor prevails on appeal, the two parties would probably reach a settlement in which Apple will be required to pay royalties in order for Apple Watch to use ECG technology.
