The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has sided with Apple in a high-stakes patent dispute with health tech company AliveCor, effectively ending the possibility of an import ban on Apple Watches featuring EKG functionality. The court upheld a prior decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), which found AliveCor’s disputed patents unpatentable.
Dispute Centered on Alleged Infringement of Cardiac Monitoring Technology
AliveCor had previously secured a favorable ruling from the International Trade Commission (ITC), which recommended blocking imports of Apple Watches with EKG capabilities over claims of patent infringement. Apple countered by challenging the validity of AliveCor’s patents before the PTAB, leading to their invalidation—a decision now affirmed by the appeals court.
Apple Celebrates Victory, AliveCor Vows to Continue Legal Fight
Apple welcomed the ruling, stating, “We thank the Federal Circuit for its careful consideration in this case. Apple’s teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features that meaningfully impact users’ lives, and we intend to stay on this path.”
AliveCor expressed disappointment, arguing the decision undermines intellectual property protections for smaller innovators. “Our fight against Apple is necessary to preserve innovation, fair competition, and the ability to ensure that inventors—both today and in the future—have the IP protection needed to build and scale new technologies,” the company said. It indicated plans to explore further legal avenues, including potential appeals.
Broader Implications for Tech and Health Sectors
The case highlights ongoing tensions between tech giants and smaller firms over intellectual property in the competitive wearables market. While AliveCor emphasized its commitment to advancing cardiac care through AI-driven solutions, Apple’s legal victory solidifies its ability to continue integrating health-monitoring features without immediate disruption.
The ruling follows another recent patent dispute involving Apple and Masimo, which led to a temporary U.S. sales ban on certain Apple Watch models. Legal experts suggest these cases may prompt closer scrutiny of patent strategies in the fast-evolving health tech industry.
