- Oura wins patent case against Ultrahuman
- This means that Ultrahuman’s smart rings are now banned in the United States.
- RingConn reaches agreement with Oura that ends its ongoing dispute
Bad news, Ultrahuman fans: the popular smart ring maker was forced to halt sales of its devices in the United States after losing a patent case against rival company Oura, with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that Ultrahuman had infringed Oura’s patents. This now has significant ramifications for Ultrahuman and the users of its devices.
According to an Oura blog post, “the ITC’s final decision enforces the exclusion and cessation orders.” In practice, this means that Ultrahuman is now prohibited from importing and selling its smart rings in the United States, which severely restricts the activity of a major player in the wearables market – at least for now.
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,” provided the product was purchased on or before October 21, 2025. Retailers can continue to sell their existing inventory after that date, and anyone who purchases a Ring Air after October 21 will benefit from diagnostics and technical assistance.
However, retailers will not be able to import or stock the Ultrahuman Ring Air beyond what is held in their existing inventory. Once this amount is used up, you will no longer be able to purchase the device if you live in the United States.
In response to the patent case, Ultrahuman said that “a new ring model is already in development and will be launched in the United States as soon as possible” and that it is also investigating whether a “Made in USA” Ring Air could be produced at its Texas factory.
Additionally, Ultrahuman added, “We also look forward to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s review of the validity of Oura’s ‘178 patent, which it acquired in 2023, and which is at the heart of the ITC’s decision. A decision is expected in December.”
Best news for RingConn
The patent dispute centers on the design of smart rings aimed at competing with Oura, specifically those made by Ultrahuman and its competitor RingConn.
The legal judgment – which was first issued earlier this year, and the ban is set to take effect on October 21 – said that Ultrahuman and RingConn had infringed Oura’s patents relating to the ring form factor.
RingConn, however, seems to have been more successful than Ultrahuman. In fact, it reached an agreement with Oura, through which all existing disputes between the two companies in the United States were resolved. Oura has granted RingConn a multi-year patent license, which means you can continue to purchase RingConn wearables in the United States.
It’s unclear if Ultrahuman will take this route, but he doesn’t appear to have chosen to do so yet. If you’re a fan of the company’s products, you’ll want to keep a close eye on what happens in the coming months.
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