- Oura has won a patent case against Ultrahuman
- It means Ultrahuman’s smart rings are now banned in the US.
- RingConn has reached an agreement with Oura that ends their ongoing dispute
Bad news, Ultrahuman fans: The popular smart ring maker was forced to stop sales of its devices in the US after losing a patent case against rival company Oura, with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that Ultrahuman infringed on Oura patents. This now has major ramifications for Ultrahuman and the users of its devices.
According to a blog post by Oura, “the ITC’s final ruling imposes exclusion and cease-and-desist orders.” What this means in practice is that Ultrahuman is now prohibited from importing and selling its smart rings in the US, severely restricting the operation of a major player in the wearables market, at least for the time being.
On its own website, Ultrahuman explained that existing owners of the Ultrahuman Ring Air device will be able to continue using it “exactly as before, with subscription-free health information, relentless feature updates, and full warranty support,” as long as the product was purchased on or before October 21, 2025. Retailers can continue to sell existing inventory after this date, and anyone who purchases a Ring Air after October 21 will receive assistance with diagnostics and technical support.
However, retailers will not be able to import or stock Ultrahuman Ring Air beyond what they have in their existing inventory. Once it’s gone, you will no longer be able to purchase the device if you live in the US.
In response to the patent case, Ultrahuman said that “a new ring design is already in development and will be launched in the US as soon as possible” and that it is also exploring whether a “Made in the USA” Ring Air could be produced. at its Texas facilities.
On top of that, Ultrahuman added, “We also eagerly await the US Patent and Trademark Office’s review of the validity of Oura’s ‘178 patent, which it acquired in 2023, and is central to the ITC’s ruling. A decision is expected in December.”
Better news for RingConn
The patent dispute centers on the design of smart rings intended to rival Oura, specifically those made by Ultrahuman and its competitor RingConn.
The legal ruling, which was first issued earlier this year, with the ban set to take effect on October 21, declared that Ultrahuman and RingConn had infringed Oura’s patents related to the ring form factor.
RingConn, however, seems to have fared better than Ultrahuman. This is because it has reached an agreement with Oura through which all existing disputes between the two companies in the United States have been resolved. Oura has granted RingConn a multi-year patent license, which means you can continue purchasing RingConn wearables in the US.
It’s unknown if this is a route Ultrahuman will take, but it doesn’t appear to have opted to do so yet. If you’re a fan of the company’s products, you’ll have to watch closely to see what happens in the coming months.
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