The patent battle for Apple's new watches has begun.

United States International Trade Commission decided last Friday to initiate a new trial process regarding whether to impose an import ban on Apple's updated smartwatches. This process is taking place within the framework of a patent dispute with a medical monitoring technology company named Masimo.

The Commission announced that it will investigate whether the redesigned Apple Watches, which were altered to circumvent previously issued import bans, violate the blood oxygen measurement technology developed by Masimo. According to the statement, this investigation is expected to be completed within six months.

There was no immediate response from Apple and Masimo regarding the announcements. This case is part of a multifaceted patent battle between Apple and Masimo. Masimo claims that Apple aimed to steal its pulse oximeter innovations by hiring its employees.

In 2023, the commission blocked the import of Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after determining that Masimo's patents were violated. To avoid the ban, Apple removed blood oxygen reading technology from its watches but still reintroduced an updated version in August with the approval of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

Masimo sued the Customs and Border Protection agency against this approval. Additionally, Apple appealed to a federal appellate court against the bans of the International Trade Commission. Masimo also filed a separate lawsuit against Apple for patent infringement and trade secret theft. A jury in Santa Ana is weighing whether Apple should pay approximately $749 million in damages for Masimo's claims regarding violations of Apple's patents.

A California judge dismissed the trial in the trade secret case that Masimo brought against Apple because the jury could not reach a verdict. Last year, Apple obtained a minimal gain of $250 against Masimo in Delaware as a result of a counterclaim that Masimo's smartwatches violated two Apple design patents.