Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) has appealed a decision banning imports of Apple Watches on accusations of patent infringement from the medical device company Masimo, according to reports.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling, which went into effect Tuesday, specifically barred Apple Watches that utilize the pulse oximeter feature to detect blood-oxygen levels, which the tech giant introduced in 2020.
Apple filed its appeal after the Biden administration allowed the ITC decision to stand. The company also filed an emergency request Tuesday for the US Court of Appeals to remove the ban until US Customs and Border Protection can determine whether redesigned Apple Watches do infringe on Masimo patents.
Essentially, Masimo alleges that Apple poached its employees and stole its pulse oximeter technology, later adding it to the Apple Watch.
The CBP is expected to reach a decision on January 12, Apple said.
"We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting exclusion order, and are taking all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible," Apple said in a statement on Tuesday.
Apple already halted sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches in the US last week, although they do remain available at other retailers, according to reports.
Shares of Apple fell 0.2% early Tuesday afternoon to $193.29.