The US International Trade Commission ruled that Ultrahuman and RingConn infringed on Oura patents and issued cease-and-desist orders banning imports and US sales of their smart rings. The enforcement order takes effect 60 days after the August 21 publication and will be submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representatives. Oura characterized the ruling as validating its patents and reinforcing its long-term IP strategy. The initial ITC determination from April alleged that both brands used dishonest tactics to develop their ring form factors. Ultrahuman and RingConn had been marketed as subscription-free alternatives to the higher-priced Oura Ring, which starts at $350.
Oura secured a final legal victory in its patent dispute with Ultrahuman and RingConn last week. The US International Trade Commission's ruling asserts that the two competing smart ring brands infringed on Oura's patents to develop smart rings of their own. The ITC issued cease-and-desist orders banning the two brands from importing and selling their smart rings in the US. This narrows the smart ring market's competition, taking two major competitors out of the game and giving Oura even more dominance in the wearables space.
The cease-and-desist order takes effect 60 days after the decision's August 21 publication, and its submission to the Office of the US Trade Representatives, which an Oura spokesperson said is expected this week. "This ruling establishes at the most rigorous levels of review that Oura's patents are valid and enforceable, and reinforces not only the strength of Oura's patents but our long-term IP strategy," in a blog post.
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