In a recent legal development, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) have jointly petitioned a federal judge to dismiss Masimo Corporation’s lawsuit aimed at preventing the importation of redesigned Apple Watches. The agencies contend that congressional statutes preclude judicial review of such administrative decisions.
This legal confrontation traces back to 2023 when the ITC determined that Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches infringed upon Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents, leading to an import ban on these models. Apple responded by modifying the devices, removing the contested blood-oxygen monitoring feature, and subsequently received CBP approval to resume imports. In August 2025, Apple announced plans to reinstate the blood-oxygen functionality through a software update, following CBP’s authorization. Masimo, alleging that CBP reversed its prior decision without proper notification or justification, filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the agency’s ruling and maintain the import ban. ([cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/21/masimo-sues-us-customs-over-approval-of-apple-watch-imports.html?utm_source=openai))
In their recent filings, CBP and the ITC argue that Masimo’s lawsuit should be dismissed on the grounds that Congress has vested exclusive authority over such matters in the ITC, thereby barring district court intervention. They further assert that Masimo has not demonstrated irreparable harm resulting from the importation of the redesigned Apple Watches. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/us-customs-itc-push-to-toss-masimos-apple-watch-import-lawsuit?utm_source=openai))
This case underscores the complex interplay between federal agencies in enforcing intellectual property rights and the challenges companies face in navigating administrative decisions. The outcome may have significant implications for the enforcement of patent rights and the importation of consumer electronics.