A decision on Apple’s complaint about a ban on the sale of the Apple Watch is expected this week. Switching off the sensor is intended to allow the watch to continue to be sold, even if Apple loses the case.
Apple has apparently created a way to avoid the patent dispute with the medical technology company Masimo. How Bloomberg reported, the iPhone manufacturer will use the controversial sensor for measuring blood oxygen levels in the Apple Watch models in question – Series 9 and Ultra 2 switch off.
In December, Apple had to temporarily stop selling the patent-infringing smartwatches due to a court ruling and an import ban from the US trade authority ITC. While a decision has not yet been made on Apple’s appeal of the ruling, according to Bloomberg, Apple is now preparing to circumvent the decision by removing the blood oxygen feature.
Apple is supposed to make a change to its software for this. The sensor would then still be present in the smartwatch models in question, but would no longer be active. The US agency Customs and Border Protection is said to have already decided that such a smartwatch is no longer subject to the import ban.
According to the report, the modified Apple Watches have already been delivered to Apple Stores in the USA. However, the shops have received instructions not to sell the watches yet. Bloomberg suspects that Apple is simply preparing for the eventuality that it loses the appeal against the import ban. A decision is expected later this week.
Regardless, Apple is also said to be working on a software update that will change the sensor’s algorithm so that it no longer violates Masimo’s patent.