Apple obtains temporary reprieve from ban on Apple Watch

Apple has won temporary relief from the Apple Watch import and sales ban that went into effect in the US on Dec. 26. The US Court of Appeals granted the company’s request for an emergency pause of the ban. Apple had asked for a halt until US Customs and Border Protection reviewed whether changes to the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 would no longer infringe on patents held by medical device maker Masimo. The decision on whether the changes are sufficient is expected on January 12, 2024. As a result, Apple can temporarily resume selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2. However, at the time of writing, these models are still listed as “currently unavailable” on Apple’s website. The US Court of Appeals is considering a longer pause on the ban but will not make a decision for at least a few more weeks.