The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are facing an ITC situation due to patent infringement, resulting in a ban on their sale in the United States. Apple is still selling the devices with the blood oxygen features disabled, and third-party retailers continue to offer them with the features intact. The ITC's decision has led to a series of legal maneuvers and appeals from Apple, including a redesign and a software update to address the issue. The situation remains ongoing, with the US appeals court temporarily halting the ban, while the Biden administration upholds the ITC's ruling.
British American Tobacco (BAT) is actively working to sell some of its 29% stake in India's ITC, signaling a move towards resuming share buybacks and sending its shares up almost 8%. The company aims to reduce debt and move towards the leverage range for buybacks, with the CEO stating that a 25% stake is required for veto rights. BAT's dividend, up 2% on last year, remained intact, and the company reported a 5.2% rise in adjusted diluted earnings per share, slightly beating analyst expectations.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has opposed Apple's request to stay the Apple Watch sales ban, stating that Apple's arguments are weak and unconvincing. The ITC ruled in October that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 infringe on patents held by Masimo, leading to a temporary halt in sales. Apple has submitted a software redesign to US Customs and Border Protection and is awaiting a decision on January 12. The US appeals court will decide on the stay request, and if US Customs deems the software change inadequate and the stay request is rejected, the Apple Watch models could be removed from the market again.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) opposes Apple's motion to keep the Apple Watch sales ban paused during Apple's appeal, stating that Apple's arguments for a stay pending appeal are weak and unconvincing. The ITC previously ruled that certain Apple Watch models infringed on patents owned by Masimo, ordering a ban on their import and sale in the U.S. Apple briefly paused sales but was granted a temporary stay after appealing the ruling. The ITC remains skeptical about potential software changes addressing the alleged patent infringement and expects a ruling from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.
Apple will halt sales of its flagship Apple Watch models, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, in the United States following an International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling in a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo. The ITC ban, which goes into effect on December 25, only applies to the affected models that offer blood oxygen monitoring capabilities. The lower-end Apple Watch SE, without this sensor, remains unaffected. Apple plans to appeal the decision and is exploring other options, including settlement and licensing agreements.
