The Apple Watch is once again facing the threat of a US import ban. This comes after President Biden upheld a ruling that Apple had infringed on a patent held by a company called Paice. The patent in question relates to hybrid electric vehicles and how they switch between electric and gasoline power.
Paice originally sued Ford back in 2004 for infringing on the same patent. The case went to court, and Paice won a jury verdict against Ford in 2018. Paice then filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC), claiming that Apple’s Watch infringed on the same patent. The ITC issued a ruling in favor of Paice, and the case was referred to President Biden for review.
This is not the first time that the Apple Watch has faced the threat of a US import ban. In 2020, the ITC ruled that Apple had infringed on patents held by a company called Immersion. The ITC issued an import ban on the Apple Watch, but the ruling was later overturned by the Federal Circuit.
If the US International Trade Commission imposes a ban on the Apple Watch, it would be a significant blow to Apple. The Apple Watch is a key part of the company’s ecosystem and is a major revenue driver for the company. In addition, the ban could have implications for other smartwatch makers, who may also face patent infringement claims in the future.
It’s worth noting that this is just the latest in a long line of patent infringement cases that Apple has faced. In the past, the company has been accused of infringing on patents related to everything from smartphone design to wireless technology. Apple has typically settled these cases out of court or has been able to overturn rulings on appeal.
For now, it remains to be seen whether the US International Trade Commission will impose a ban on the Apple Watch. Apple is likely to appeal the ruling, and the case could drag on for years. Regardless of the outcome, it’s clear that patent infringement will continue to be a major issue for technology companies in the years to come.
