This Monday, Apple announced a decision that will affect consumers in the US: Will suspend sales of two of its newest smartwatch models Due to a patent dispute regarding impact detection technology.
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The company became involved in this controversy after losing a patent lawsuit against technology firm Masimo last October. The United States International Trade Commission issued an order requiring Apple to stop selling its models Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 After the Christmas season.
The White House has until December 25 to review these restrictions, but Apple has chosen to take early steps to ensure compliance with the order if it stands. Sales of these models will stop online next Thursday and in physical stores on Sunday.
A possible alternative that could prevent this situation would be for the technology giant to reach an agreement with Masimo to license its technology, but unfortunately this has not happened so far.
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News of the suspension of sales in the United States had an immediate impact on Apple shares, which fell more than 0.50 percent on December 18. The concern is the possible negative impact this measure may have on the company’s sales The holiday season is a very important period for the technology market.
However, it is also worth noting that people who have already purchased any of Apple’s two smartwatch models will not have any problems with their products. Additionally, no changes have been reported regarding the availability of these models outside the United States.
According to specialist media reports, Apple issued a statement in which it expressed its disagreement with the measure and claimed that it was exploring various legal and technical options to ensure that the Apple Watch continues to be available to its customers.
Masimo, for its part, responded to the situation through a statement in which it emphasized that this patent dispute shows that: “Even the most powerful company in the world must comply with the law.”
Apple’s smartwatches account for a significant portion of its annual revenue, contributing nearly $20 billion of total sales of $383.29 billion, according to financial research firm Bernstein Research.
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Apple is the world’s largest smartwatch vendor, accounting for nearly a third of all smartwatch sales, according to technology research firm Counterpoint Research.
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*This content was rewritten with the help of artificial intelligence, based on the information published by EFE, and was reviewed by the journalist and editor.
Source: Exame
