Apple has won a legal battle against AliveCor, which claimed that the Apple Watch infringed on its EKG patents. The US Court of Appeals upheld a decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board declaring AliveCor’s patents unpatentable, preventing an import ban recommended by the International Trade Commission. Apple welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its commitment to health and safety innovations. Conversely, AliveCor expressed disappointment, arguing that the decision undermines innovation for smaller companies and vowing to explore legal options to defend its patent rights. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by small firms against larger tech giants like Apple.
You may have heard about Apple’s legal challenges with medical technology firm Masimo, which led to a sales ban on Apple Watches featuring SpO2 sensors in the United States. Additionally, Apple was embroiled in a legal dispute with health technology company AliveCor that could have resulted in an import ban on the Apple Watch by the International Trade Commission (ITC). However, that scenario has been averted as the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in favor of Apple.
The US Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), which determined that AliveCor’s EKG patents—at the center of this conflict—are not patentable.
AliveCor had approached the ITC, alleging that Apple infringed upon its EKG patents with the Apple Watch. The initial ruling was in favor of AliveCor, prompting the ITC to recommend an import ban on the sale of Apple Watches equipped with the EKG feature in the US.
Apple Watch Series 9
In response, Apple appealed to the PTAB to invalidate AliveCor’s contested patents, and the PTAB concluded that the patents were indeed unpatentable. The US Court of Appeals has now upheld that decision, effectively dismissing AliveCor’s ITC case against Apple.
“We thank the Federal Circuit for its thorough consideration in this matter. Apple’s teams have worked relentlessly for many years to create industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features that significantly enhance users’ lives, and we intend to continue on this trajectory,” said Apple.
In contrast, AliveCor expressed:
“We are profoundly disappointed by the Court’s decisions today and that the Court did not take into account the secondary considerations available, which the ITC found compelling in their validity determination. Today’s ruling does not impact our business or our ability to continue innovating for our growing base of millions of customers.
This situation extends beyond AliveCor; it symbolizes the struggle of every small enterprise and the potential innovations that are endangered by larger corporations. Our battle against Apple is crucial to safeguarding innovation, fair competition, and the assurance that inventors—both now and in the future—receive the intellectual property protections necessary to develop and expand new technologies.
We will persist in exploring all legal avenues, including potential appeals, to uphold our stance that our patents are valid and that Apple has infringed upon our intellectual property rights. As we advance, our focus remains on revolutionizing the industry with clinically validated, AI-driven solutions that democratize access to cardiac care.”
Via