Apple Watch US Sales Ban
Masimo recently filed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection, accusing the agency of improperly allowing Apple to resume selling Apple Watches with the Blood Oxygen feature activated.
In response, US Customs has now asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Masimo is pursuing the challenge in the wrong court.
The agency argues that Congress requires disputes over exclusion orders to follow a specific path: first to the ITC and then to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit if necessary.
Customs says Masimo cannot sidestep that process by filing directly in district court. In its motion, the agency cited legal precedent, including the Thunder Basin Coal Co. v. Reich case, to support the view that the court lacks jurisdiction.
If the motion is granted, Masimo would need to bring its objections back to the ITC, potentially delaying resolution and extending the uncertainty for Apple’s supply chain.
Meanwhile, Apple continues to market its watches with the redesigned blood oxygen feature enabled, signalling confidence in its compliance with the ITC ruling.
