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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- RingConn good rings can nonetheless be bought within the US.
- The rings had been going to be taken off the market on Oct. 21.
- The corporate secured a licensing settlement with Oura.
Earlier this yr, Oura gained a patent dispute between Ultrahuman and RingConn, two rivals within the smart ring market. The US Worldwide Commerce Fee (ITC) decided that the 2 manufacturers infringed on Oura’s kind issue patent, issuing stop and desist orders for Ultrahuman and RingConn.
The stop and desist order was imagined to take impact on Oct. 21. Nevertheless, because of a licensing settlement with Oura, RingConn good rings evaded the order and might be offered within the US. The identical cannot be stated for Ultrahuman, the opposite good ring firm that was discovered to be infringing Oura’s patent.
Additionally: Two subscription-free smart rings were just banned in the US – here’s what comes next
The 2 good rings are subscription-free, inexpensive alternate options to Oura’s $350 good ring (which requires a $70 annual subscription to unlock full information entry).
Beginning Oct. 21, Ultrahuman smart rings cannot be imported or offered within the US. Ultrahuman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Additionally: I tested this Oura Ring 4 alternative that functions similarly (with no subscription)
Oura and RingConn introduced a complete settlement and patent license settlement on Tuesday. Oura additionally entered a multi-year patent licensing settlement with Omate, a lesser-known good ring model.
RingConn will proceed to be offered on Amazon and within the US, and the corporate will now make royalty funds to Oura. Omate will get to entry Oura’s patent portfolio to develop future good rings in alignment with Oura’s personal patents.
Earlier this yr, the ITC discovered that each Ultrahuman and RingConn participated in “dishonest ways,” Oura says in a weblog publish, to develop their very own good rings.
Now that Ultrahuman’s stop and desist order is in impact, sure options of its good ring could also be disabled, or the model might have to revamp the shape issue of its Ultrahuman Ring Air.
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In an earlier interview with ZDNET in regards to the patent dispute, Ultrahuman CEO Mohit Kumar stated the corporate is engaged on a brand new good ring and can proceed its Texas manufacturing manufacturing facility operations.
“In fact this was a option to decelerate competitors, however we do not care,” Kumar informed ZDNET. “We’re right here for lengthy.”
