Apple Watch, embroiled in patent dispute, discontinues U.S. sales of latest model

Due to a patent dispute, Apple has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the latest Apple Watch models, such as the Series 9 and Ultra 2, in the United States.
According to the Financial Times (FT) and other sources on the 18th (local time), Apple will launch the Series 9 in the United States starting on the 21st.
Online sales of Ultra 2 will be discontinued. From the 24th, Christmas Eve, we have decided to stop selling the product at stores in the United States. In regions outside the United States, such as Asia, these products are
It can be purchased as follows. Apple decided to suspend sales of the Apple Watch during the Christmas season due to a patent dispute. Massimo, a manufacturer of blood oxygen measuring devices, is
A lawsuit was filed in 2021 alleging that PULL misappropriated its own technology and equipped the Series 9 and Ultra 2 with a blood oxygen measurement function. In October, the U.S. International Trade Commission accepted Massimo's claims.
A restrictive import ban order was issued for the Apple Watch. If US President Biden does not exercise his veto by the 25th, the import ban order will go into effect the next day, the 26th.
Apple said, ``We firmly oppose the import ban and are considering various legal and technical options to allow customers to use the Apple Watch.''
If the order is upheld, we will take every step to return the Series 9 and Ultra 2 to U.S. customers as soon as possible."
With iPhone sales declining due to regulations in China and other countries, discontinuing sales of the latest Apple Watch will be a blow to Apple.
Become. Sales of Apple's wearable home accessories, including the Apple Watch, reached $8.28 billion in the third quarter. IDC, a research organization, will begin operations from January to February next year.
It is expected that the impact of the sales suspension will become serious.