Apple's Apple Watch ECG Function Ruling and Patent Disputes

TapTechNews July 16th news, in the latest announcement of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), it is determined that the redesigned electrocardiogram (ECG) function of Apple's Apple Watch does not infringe on the patent of AliveCor, so the relevant models are not restricted by the Limited Exclusion Order (LEO) of the International Trade Commission (ITC).

According to the announcement, Apple can import Apple Watch for sale in the US and does not need to pay a $2 deposit for each Apple Watch.

TapTechNews translates part of the announcement content as follows:

The investigation results show that Apple has fulfilled its responsibility and proved that the products involved do not infringe the contents of clauses 12, 13, and 19-23 in patent No. 941, as well as the contents of clauses 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12, 15, and 16 in patent No. 731.

Therefore, we believe that the items involved are not restricted by the LEO issued due to investigation No. 337-TA-1266.

This ruling is another blow to the case of AliveCor suing Apple. AliveCor has currently filed an appeal.

Apple's Apple Watch has been involved in multiple lawsuits due to the technology used. Masimo successfully obtained an import ban, but Apple launched an Apple Watch with the blood oxygen function disabled last year to bypass the patent dispute.

The lawsuit between AliveCor and Apple mainly focuses on heart rate monitoring technology. TapTechNews reported on February 14th that the new judgment showed that the watchOS updated heart rate algorithm is not an anti-competitive behavior.