Today, December 18, 2023, Apple announced that sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States will be temporarily halted through the end of the week due to a protracted patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo.

The dispute concerns medical sensors and the determination of blood oxygen levels. As a result of the years-long dispute, US users will no longer be able to order Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 smart watches from Apple’s website as of Thursday, December 21, and will not be able to purchase these models from Apple’s official authorities. Retail stores.

The final decision on the dispute must be made by US President Joe Biden, with the deadline for a final decision being December 25, 2023. However, presidential vetoes of ITC (US International Trade Commission) import bans have historically been rare.

Apple, meanwhile, said it has taken steps to comply in advance if the ruling is approved and adopted. These measures include stopping the sale of a new smart watch. Additionally, Apple “will continue to take all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to US customers as quickly as possible.”