A Texas company, UnaliWear, has initiated a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) targeting various smartwatch manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Google, and Garmin. The investigation focuses on the fall detection functionality of these devices, which UnaliWear claims infringes upon its patents, specifically U.S. Patent No. 10,051,410 and U.S. Patent No. 10,687,193.
The complaint argues that these wearable devices violate section 337 due to their importation and sale in the U.S. UnaliWear seeks a limited exclusion order to prevent the import of the devices in question, along with cease and desist orders to stop the sale of existing units in the country. If granted, these remedies could mirror the prior import ban on the Apple Watch stemming from its dispute with Masimo.
Respondents have 20 days to reply to the allegations; failure to do so could result in a default judgment against them, as per the ITC's guidelines. This action marks another chapter in the ongoing legal challenges surrounding health-related features in smartwatches.