Apple Watch Import Ban On The Cards After Judge Finds Patent Infringement
A US judge has ruled that Apple Watches violate AliveCor Inc’s patent rights in wearable devices with electrocardiogram (ECG) technology.
AliveCor accused tech giant Apple of infringing three patents related to its KardiaBand, which monitors its wearer’s heart rate, detects irregularities, and identifies potential atrial fibrillation through ECG.
The judge’s ruling establishes a vote by the full commission that may well see an import ban imposed on the Apple device. A final decision is expected by October 26.
“Today’s ruling is a strong validation of our IP and underscores that patents matter and even an influential company like Apple cannot simply violate them to stifle innovation,” said Priya Abani, CEO of AliveCor in a statement.
“Since the start, our focus has been on our customers and providing them with strong choices to help monitor their cardiac health, including KardiaBand, the first-ever FDA-cleared ECG device accessory for Apple Watch.”
While the president of the US has the power to veto an import ban, this is something that seldom occurs. Once the presidential review period concludes, parties can appeal the ban to the Federal Circuit.
