In a major blow to Apple, President Joe Biden has declined to issue a last-minute, emergency action to keep the newest Apple Watch models on store shelves. This decision comes after the US International Trade Commission ruled that Apple's Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, along with other newer models, violate patents registered to medical device maker Masimo.

The ruling, which stems from Apple's use of light-based technology to read blood-oxygen levels, has prompted Apple to remove the offending watch models from its online store. Apple Store locations are also expected to open without any of the latest top-of-the-line watches in stock. However, the ban does not affect the Apple Watch SE.

While other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy continue to sell their remaining stock of Apple Watches, the ITC ruling prevents Apple from importing more smartwatches to the United States. This poses a significant challenge to Apple, as the company has marketed its smartwatch as a life-saving device, making it the most popular watch sold globally.

In an effort to address the ruling, Apple may explore making software tweaks to the Apple Watch to ensure it does not infringe on Masimo's patents. However, there is no guarantee that the ITC will accept this potential solution. Masimo CEO Joe Kiani believes Apple deliberately infringed on his company's patents and tensions between the two companies have been ongoing for years. In fact, Apple filed two patent infringement lawsuits against Masimo in October 2022.

While President Biden did not intervene in this case, there is some precedent for a president to overturn an ITC ruling. In 2013, President Barack Obama vetoed an ITC ruling that would have banned older iPhones and iPads due to Apple's violation of one of Samsung's patents.

As Apple awaits the end of the 60-day review period on the ITC ruling, the company has expressed its disagreement and is exploring legal and technical options to make the Apple Watch available to customers once again. However, it remains to be seen how Apple will navigate this patent dispute and whether they will be able to bring back the banned watch models to the US market.

Overall, this ruling and the subsequent removal of the Apple Watch models from the market highlight the significant challenges Apple faces in maintaining its dominance in the smartwatch industry. The impact of this decision on Apple's reputation and sales remains to be seen, but it is clear that the company is determined to find a solution and make its flagship smartwatch available to customers as soon as possible.