Apple Wins Patent Dispute Against AliveCor, Avoids Potential Ban On Apple Watch Imports

Apple Watch Series 10 with the ECG damp (photo: x @AppleDealHunter)

JAKARTA - Apple has finally won a long legal battle against AliveCor. This victory avoided a potential ban on imports of Apple Watch after a federal court in the US ruled in favor of the tech giant.

The decision was issued on Friday, March 7, in which a federal appeals court overturned AliveCor's claim that Apple had violated its patents. With this ruling, Apple is no longer facing the threat of a ban on imports of Apple Watch devices using advanced heart rate monitoring features.

"We thank the Federal Circuit Court for its careful considerations in this case. The Apple team has worked tirelessly for years to develop the health, fitness and safety features that lead the industry and have a real impact on the lives of users. We are committed to continuing to be on track," Apple said, quoted by VOI from Apple Insider.

The company also emphasizes that millions of people have benefited from the health features available on Apple Watch, including heart rate monitoring and atrium fibrillation (AFib) detection.

The Beginning Of Dispute

The legal dispute between Apple and AliveCor began in 2020, when AliveCor accused Apple of violating its patents in the development of the AFib detection feature introduced since the Apple Watch Series 4. Not only that, AliveCor also briefly filed a lawsuit to ban the sale and import of Apple Watch in the United States.

In 2022, the US Court of Appeals and Patents (USPTO) initially ruled that Apple did not violate the AliveCor patent. However, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) later issued a different decision. The ITC found Apple guilty of patent infringement and imposed a Limited Exclusion Order that could limit imports of Apple Watch.

In the decision, ITC set a guarantee of USD 2.00 (IDR 32 thousand) for each unit of Apple Watch imported or sold during the president's review. However, ITC then suspended the implementation of this decision pending a review from the Court of Appeals and the US Patent Session.

Apple's Balik Lawsuit

Apple did not remain silent and sued AliveCor back in the same month. In the lawsuit, Apple accused AliveCor of having openly violated its technology, which it claimed had been developed long before the AliveCor stood.

In 2024, Apple won an antitrust lawsuit filed by AliveCor after US District Judge Jeffery White issued a verdict in favor of Apple. The judge stated that Apple did not violate the AliveCor patent in the Apple Watch model using the redesigned ECG system.

With the latest decision from the appeals court, Apple has now secured a major victory and is free from the threat of a ban on imports.

AliveCor Reaction

AliveCor expressed disappointment with the ruling. In a statement, the company stated that it was considering all available legal options, including the possibility of filing an appeal.

"We are deeply disappointed with today's court ruling and the fact that the court is not considering secondary factors that previously convinced ITC in their decision. However, this decision does not affect our business or our ability to continue to innovate for millions of our customers," AliveCor was quoted as saying by Apple Insider.

AliveCor also confirmed that the case is not only about the company, but also about the protection of innovation for other small companies.

"Our fight against Apple is an important step to maintain innovation, fair competition, and ensure that inventors - both today and in the future - get the patent protection they need to build and develop new technologies."

It is still unclear when and whether AliveCor will appeal this appeal court decision. However, for Apple, this victory ensures that they can continue to sell Apple Watch with advanced health monitoring features without further legal barriers.