Oura seeks court order to ban US sales of Ultrahuman Ring Pro
The Finland-based wearable maker claims the redesigned device violates two new patents, one of which was issued 48 hours before the lawsuit was filed.
By Kenji Hassan ·
Oura has filed a federal lawsuit in Texas to halt US sales of the Ultrahuman Ring Pro, the smart ring that replaced the model previously banned in the country. The complaint alleges that the new device infringes two specific Oura patents covering its design and internal components.
The company is requesting monetary damages and an injunction to stop the sale of the wearable in the United States. This follows a previous victory where the US International Trade Commission ruled that the original Ring Air violated Oura's intellectual property, leading to a US sales ban while the product remained available in Europe.
Ultrahuman redesigned the Ring Pro to avoid the earlier patent issues. The new version received clearance from US Customs and Border Protection earlier this year. However, Oura disputes that the changes were sufficient to clear its patents. The company stated that the redesign still incorporates many of its patented innovations and continues to infringe on its intellectual property.
One of the patents cited in the lawsuit, number 12,769,363, was granted only two days before the complaint was lodged. This patent covers a smart ring design featuring a specific housing, battery, and internal components. Oura also named SVTronics as a defendant in the suit. SVTronics is the company that builds the Ring Pro for the US market at a plant in Plano, Texas.
Ultrahuman says it will contest the legal action and that the Ring Pro remains on sale in the US. A spokesperson told Engadget that the redesign has already undergone independent review in the United States. The spokesperson noted that Customs and Border Protection concluded the device did not infringe on the patent considered in that earlier proceeding.
The spokesperson added that Oura has now chosen to assert different patents, including the one issued just before the lawsuit filing. The company said it will defend its position vigorously in the new case. This dispute adds to a period of legal activity for Oura, which is also engaged in a prolonged patent fight with Samsung and recently announced a partnership with the US military involving a Palantir hosting environment.
The new lawsuit marks a continuation of the rivalry between the two smart ring manufacturers in the US market. Oura aims to secure a legal stop to the Ring Pro sales, similar to the outcome achieved with the Ring Air. The case will now proceed through the Texas federal court system.
Source: Engadget
