Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/CALIFORNIA: The Biden administration would not overrule a United States International Trade Commission decision to block imports of Apple watches for infringing AliveCor Inc patents related to heart monitoring.
An AliveCor spokesperson said it had been informed there would be no veto of the ruling. Any ITC ban is on hold while Apple and AliveCor clash over the patents.
The ITC ruled in December 2022 that imports of Apple’s smartwatches should be restricted for infringing AliveCor’s patents. Still, it placed the ban on pause while the related proceedings over the patents ran their course. The United States Patent and Trademark Office found the patents invalid earlier that month in a ruling that AliveCor has said it would appeal.
ITC’s ban decision
Apple said it would appeal the ITC’s import ban decision, which it said would harm public health.
Representatives for the White House didn’t immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on Tuesday. The ITC did not comment either.
Based on policy concerns, the White House has 60 days to decide whether to veto the ITC’s December 22 ruling.
Presidential vetoes of ITC import restrictions have historically been rare. The Obama administration reversed the ban on some iPads and iPhones in 2013 in a patent fight between Samsung and Apple Electronics Co Ltd, citing its effects on US consumers and economic competition.
