The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found that Apple Watches violated the patent rights of medical technology company Masimo (MASI.O.). As a result, the ITC issued an order that may prevent Apple (AAPL.O) from importing its products.

The panel confirmed a January judge’s decision that Apple had infringed Masimo’s light-based blood-oxygen sensor technology rights. The judgment is subject to presidential review and potential appeals, so that it won’t take effect immediately.

Before the import restriction takes effect, President Joe Biden’s administration will have sixty days to choose whether to veto it due to reservations over policy. In the past, presidents have seldom vetoed laws. After the review period expires, Apple may appeal the prohibition to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“Masimo has wrongly attempted to use the ITC to keep a potentially lifesaving product from millions of U.S. consumers while making way for their own watch that copies Apple,” a spokeswoman for Apple stated. “While today’s decision has no immediate impact on sales of the Apple Watch, we believe it should be reversed and will continue our efforts to appeal.”

Masimo’s representatives did not immediately answer requests for comments on the judgment. The list of Apple Watch models that will be prohibited was not stated in the ITC ruling. The 2020 Apple Watch Series 6, the first device with blood-oxygen monitoring features, allegedly broke Masimo’s patents in its 2021 lawsuit.

The counterfeit Apple Watches, according to Masimo’s allegation, were produced in China. Since then, Apple has moved a portion of its Watch manufacturing to Vietnam. The ITC action is a component of Apple and Masimo’s multi-jurisdictional battle over intellectual property.

Masimo, a company in Irvine, California, has charged Apple with stealing and using its technology in many Apple Watch versions. In May, a jury trial in federal court in California concerning Masimo’s accusations resulted in a mistrial.

Apple has filed a separate Delaware federal court lawsuit against Masimo for patent infringement. The legal efforts of Masimo have been referred to as a “maneuver to clear a path” for the company’s competing smartwatch. AliveCor, a medical technology startup, and Apple are engaged in a separate patent battle that might result in an import ban on Apple Watches. In February, the ITC announced a ban, but it was put on hold while associated legal actions over the validity of AliveCor’s patents were ongoing.

As per a corporate report, Apple’s wearables, home, and accessories division, which encompasses the Apple Watch, AirPods earphones, and other items, generated $8.28 billion in sales in the third quarter of 2023.