Two Subscription-free Smart Rings Were Just Banned In The Us - Here's What Comes Next

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways 

• Oura won a patent conflict pinch Ultrahuman and RingConn. 
• The 2 competitors infringed connected shape facet patents, nan ITC ruled connected Aug. 21. 
• Ultrahuman and RingConn smart rings tin nary longer beryllium sold successful nan US. 

Oura secured a last ineligible triumph successful its patent conflict pinch Ultrahuman and RingConn past week. The US International Trade Commission's ruling asserts that nan 2 competing smart ringing brands infringed connected Oura's patents to create smart rings of their own. 

The ITC issued cease-and-desist orders banning nan 2 brands from importing and trading their smart rings successful nan US. This narrows nan smart ringing market's competition, taking 2 awesome competitors retired of nan crippled and giving Oura moreover much power successful nan wearables space. 

Also: I compared nan 2 champion Android smartwatches correct now - here's really Google wins

The cease-and-desist bid takes effect 60 days aft nan decision's August 21 publication, and its submission to nan Office of nan US Trade Representatives, which an Oura spokesperson said is expected this week. 

"This ruling establishes astatine nan astir rigorous levels of reappraisal that Oura's patents are valid and enforceable, and reinforces not only nan spot of Oura's patents but our semipermanent IP strategy," Oura writes successful a blog post. 

The first ITC determination came successful April and claimed that both brands engaged successful dishonest tactics to create nan shape facet of their smart rings. 

When ZDNET requested remark connected nan first determination respective months ago, an Oura spokesperson said that some products infringe connected "every constituent of each asserted declare of Oura's patent." 

Also: I've tested nan Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and different slumber trackers - 5 tips to get nan champion results

The 2 competing smart ringing brands were known arsenic subscription-free alternatives to nan higher-priced Oura Ring, a instrumentality whose latest procreation originates astatine $350, alongside an further $7 monthly rank interest for afloat entree to information capture. 

In consequence to nan ITC's ruling, Ultrahuman said, "We are moving guardant pinch assurance and doubling down connected compliance while accelerating improvement of a next-generation ringing built connected a fundamentally caller architecture. As galore observers recognize, restricting title risks less choices, higher prices, and slower innovation." Ultrahuman added that consumers tin still acquisition nan Ring Air straight done Oct. 21.

The ITC made nan ruling connected Aug. 21. On that aforesaid day, Ultrahuman announced it would beryllium taking Oura to tribunal successful India, alleging that nan smart ringing marque infringed connected its patents for its sensors, construction, and onboard process, according to a property release. The India suit has since been dismissed, arsenic Ultrahuman did not disclose nan ITC's determinations successful its suit.  

"The ITC Final Determination was released aft we revenge nan DHC lawsuit and nan Court would for illustration america to adhd much item and explain why it is not applicable to nan lawsuit (it is not applicable because nan patents and nan jurisdictions are not related)," an Ultrahuman typical writes successful an email to ZDNET. Ultrahuman says it will re-file shortly pinch this clarification.

Nevertheless, Ultrahuman is persisting. In an question and reply pinch ZDNET, Ultrahuman CEO Mohit Kumar laid retired nan company's options moving forward. The marque has been moving connected a caller smart ring, for one. Kumar said US manufacturing could still let nan institution to beryllium successful nan US without immoderate imports, acknowledgment to its recently opened Texas factory. The last action is to conflict Oura's patent, which Kumar calls "a junk patent" and "pretty basic." 

"Of people this was a measurement to slow down competition, but we don't care," Kumar said. "We're present for long." 

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Ultrahuman's and RingConn's smart rings are still disposable to acquisition connected prime retailers for illustration Amazon, but they will astir apt beryllium closing up shop successful nan US very soon, now that nan ruling is confirmed and cease-and-desist orders person been instituted.