Sales ban for Garmin, Apple and Samsung smartwatches? USITC launches investigation

The United States International Trade Commission has launched an official investigation that could have dire consequences for various wearable makers. The case revolves around a fall detection technology from a company called UnaliWear, which is rather unknown to most consumers. Various smartwatches from different manufacturers offer such a fall detection feature. If these smartwatches detect a fall, an emergency contact is notified depending on the specific model and settings, at least as long as the user does not respond to the alert within a certain amount of time.

According to UnaliWear, the issue is the unlicensed use of this patented technology by several manufacturers. The USITC names several companies that are the subject of the investigation. These include Apple, Garmin, Google and Samsung. All these manufacturers offer the aforementioned feature in their smartwatches.

In a corresponding statement, the USITC explicitly points out that this is just the start of an investigation and that no decision has been made. The USITC also reiterates the timeline, noting that no final decision is expected in the coming weeks. Patent infringements can have significant and unpleasant consequences. For instance, Apple recently faced a lengthy legal dispute that involved an import ban into the US. It remains to be seen if the USITC decides in the favor of UnaliWear, but it's unclear how that would affect global markets outside the US.

The 47mm Garmin Fenix 8 currently retails for $900 on Amazon.