Apple Watch sales resume after US Appeals Court pauses ban

An order from the US Court of Appeals has paused the recently imposed ban on sale/import of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple has just resumed sale of the watches on its online store today, and according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, is planning to stock all Apple Stores by December 30.

The court is still evaluating an emergency request filed by Apple, but has granted an interim stay on the ban until it has determined its validity. The International Trade Commission (ITC) has until January 10 to argue for reinstating the ban immediately.

The ITC imposed ban came into effect on December 21 online (and December 24 in the physical stores), after the ruling on a patent infringement case that alleges Apple stole the Apple Watch’s pulse oximeter technology from Masimo Corporation.

While the ban applied to all import and sale from Apple Stores and the official online store, it did not extend to other retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, etc., who will use this interim period to heavily re-stock on the devices, lest the ban returns for longer. The Apple Watch SE model has not been affected by this legal battle, as it doesn't have the blood oxygen sensor under dispute.