Apple Watch ECG Feature Infringes AliveCor Patents, Determines ITC Judge

Administrative Law Judge Cameron Elliot of the International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued an initial determination finding that Apple has infringed AliveCor patents.

Based on the foregoing, it is my Initial Determination that there is a violation of Section
337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1337, in the importation into the United
States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain
wearable electronic devices with ECG functionality and components thereof in connection with
the asserted claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,638,941 and 10,595,731. There has been no violation
of U.S. Patent No. 9,572,499.

AliveCor filed a complaint with the ITC in April 2021, alleging that Apple infringed its patents with the launch of its ECG feature for Apple Watch. The company has also filed an anti-competition complaint against the company.


The ITC is scheduled to issue a final determination on the infringement by October 26, 2022. If affirmed, the ITC could issue a limited exclusion order barring the import of select Apple Watch models into the United States.

"Today's ruling is a strong validation of our IP and underscores that patents matter and even an influential company like Apple cannot simply violate them to stifle innovation," said Priya Abani, CEO of AliveCor. "Since the start, our focus has been on our customers and providing them with strong choices to help monitor their cardiac health, including KardiaBand, the first-ever FDA-cleared ECG device accessory for Apple Watch."

Apple has yet to comment on the ruling. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.

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