Apple Defeats AliveCor's Bid to Block U.S. Watch Imports

Apple has won a significant legal victory against medical device maker AliveCor. Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the invalidity of patents that could have blocked Apple Watch imports. This ruling, reported by Reuters, could bring an end to a years-long dispute that began when AliveCor accused Apple of infringing its heart-monitoring technology— a case that once threatened the availability of certain Apple Watch models in the U.S.

The case stems from AliveCor's 2021 complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), where it claimed Apple violated three patents tied to its KardiaBand, an Apple Watch accessory designed to monitor heart rates, detect irregularities, and perform electrocardiograms (ECGs) to spot conditions like atrial fibrillation. AliveCor argued that Apple copied this technology starting with the Series 4 Apple Watch and later sabotaged KardiaBand's functionality by altering iOS compatibility, effectively pushing AliveCor out of the market. The company sought an import ban on infringing Apple Watches as a remedy.

In 2022, the U.S. Patent Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board, at Apple's request, invalidated AliveCor's patents, ruling them unpatentable due to prior art. Shortly after, the ITC found that Apple had infringed the patents but paused any import ban pending the Federal Circuit's review, noting that a ban would only apply if the patents were upheld. The appeals court's decision on Friday affirmed the Patent Board's findings, agreeing with Apple that the patents—U.S. Patent Nos. 9,572,499, 10,595,731, and 10,638,941—were obvious in light of existing technology and thus invalid. This effectively dismisses the ITC case.


AliveCor expressed frustration with the outcome. A spokesperson called the rulings "deeply disappointing" and said the company is weighing all legal options, including further appeals, though the decision won't disrupt its current operations. Apple, meanwhile, emphasized its commitment to innovation. A spokesperson noted that its teams have spent years developing "industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features" for users.

The Federal Circuit's 23-page opinion, authored by Circuit Judge Stark, detailed how prior art references, like Shmueli and Hu 1997, rendered AliveCor's machine-learning and ECG-confirmation claims obvious to skilled practitioners. The court also rejected AliveCor's argument that Apple withheld key evidence, finding the issue forfeited since it wasn't raised during the Patent Board proceedings.

This ruling marks a separate win for Apple, distinct from its 2023 import ban battle with Masimo over blood-oxygen monitoring tech, which led to temporary removal of that feature from some watches. For now, Apple Watch users and buyers can rest assured that this AliveCor dispute won't affect availability.

Notably, the Apple Watch Series 10 is on sale today for its lowest price ever. If you're interested in trying out an Apple Watch, now's the time to pick one up!


● Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm): $299 ($100 off)
● Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm): $329 ($100 off)
● Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, Cellular): $399 ($100 off)
● Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, Cellular): $429 ($100 off)

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