To keep Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 in stores, Apple has several options

To keep Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 in stores, Apple has several options،

Currently, only Apple is prohibited from selling the affected devices and will stop offering the watches in Apple Stores starting December 21 at 12 p.m. PST/3 p.m. EST. Online sales will end on December 24. The affected devices will still be available in other countries for the time being and it is worth pointing out that the second generation Apple Watch SE is not covered by the import ban as it does not feature a pulse oximeter .

President Biden has until December 25 to veto the import ban.

Apple has already made changes to marketing materials in US Apple Stores. Signage promoting the Apple Watch no longer shows the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models

Apple Stores will no longer be able to sell Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 from the afternoon of December 21 - To keep Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 in stores, Apple has several options

Apple Stores will no longer be able to sell Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 starting the afternoon of December 21

While President Joe Biden doesn't have to officially rule on the ITC import ban until December 25, Apple has decided to take preemptive action now. If the president decides not to issue a veto, Apple will appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The appeal process could take a long time to absolve Apple, if that is the case.

Bloomberg reports that Apple engineers are working against the clock to try to change the algorithms used on the Apple's pulse oximeter. Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 so that the functionality does not infringe on Massimo's patent. The technology is used to determine the level of oxygen in your blood to ensure that your lungs are able to deliver enough oxygen to your blood.

The problem with this solution is that the patents behind the import ban mainly concern hardware, including one related to technology that emits light onto an Apple Watch wearer's skin to help measure your blood oxygen level. Apple could disable this feature, although it's not something the company would likely want to do.

Apple could license Massimo's technology to remove import ban

A normal person at sea level should have a blood oxygen level between 95% and 100%. Medical conditions causing low values include COPD, asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), anemia, pneumonia, lung cancer, cardiac arrest and heart failure .

Another tactic Apple could try to make this all go away would be to settle with Massimo and obtain a license for the offending technology. However, not only is this a path that Apple doesn't like to take, Bloomberg claims that the two companies have not met to discuss a settlement or to reach a licensing agreement. Apple said Monday: “If the order is upheld, Apple will continue to take all steps to return Apple Watch Series 9 And Apple Watch Ultra2 to customers in the United States as soon as possible”, so we should not rule out a licensing deal too quickly.

Massimo, whose shares rose 3.2% today following the announcement, said the import ban “demonstrates that even the most powerful company in the world must follow the law. The actions of Massimo 'Apple fell 1% after the import ban was published. The Apple Watch is said to have generated $16.9 billion in sales for Apple in fiscal 2023, well below the more than 200 billion dollars generated by the iPhone during the same fiscal year.