Courts Reinstate Ban On Apple Watches With Blood Oxygen Sensors

A federal appeals court on Wednesday shut down Apple Inc AAPL’s attempt to allow U.S. imports of Apple Watches with blood oxygen sensors while it appeals a U.S. International Trade Commission ban on the products.

What To Know:  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled that Apple cannot import Apple Watches with blood oxygen technology while the company appeals a ban issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission, according to Reuters.

The U.S. International Trade Commission in October determined that Apple was in violation of two health technology patents held by Masimo Corp MASI related to blood oxygen sensors in its smartwatches.

Apple was hit with an import ban as a result of the violation and the company removed certain models of the Apple Watch from its stores.

The White House had 60 days to review the import ban. In late December, U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai declined to overturn the ban.

Apple then offered to redesign the product in order to avoid potential patent infringement, which led to a temporary pause of the ban by a U.S. appeals court, but the ban is now set to be reinstated beginning Thursday.

Apple reportedly argued the federal court should keep the ban on hold while it appeals the ban because it believes it’s likely to win the appeal, but the courts said the argument holds little weight and characterized it as an infringer “requesting permission to continue infringing.”

Apple’s wearables, home and accessory business, which includes its Apple Watches, generated $8.28 billion in revenue last quarter. The company is due to report fourth-quarter financial results in early February.

See Also: ITC Wants Apple Ban Reinstated, Calls Apple’s Arguments ‘Weak And Unconvincing’

AAPL Price Action: Apple shares were down 0.78% at $182.19 Wednesday afternoon, according to Benzinga Pro.

Photo: courtesy of Apple.