- Tech company UnaliWear is suing Apple, Google, Garmin and Samsung
- It’s about the use of fall detection technology on some of the best smartwatches
- If UnaliWear wins, there could be huge implications for the industry
Fall detection is a key feature of many top smartwatches, including the Apple Watch and models from Garmin, Samsung and Google’s Fitbit. Still, its future on your device may be in jeopardy, as one company claims all of these devices have illegally copied their trip-and-drop technology. If it prevails, the smartwatch industry could look very different.
At issue is the aforementioned fall detection technology, which wearables company UnaliWear says infringes its patents. UnaliWear makes wearables for older adults, with these products featuring a fall detection system called RealFall, which it says can distinguish between actual falls and everyday movements.
It is the ability to distinguish real falls from false alarms that is at the heart of the dispute. UnaliWear says the wearables it’s been out — those from Apple, Google, Garmin and Samsung — have infringed on their patents to solve a specific problem.
Right now, the case is being investigated by the US International Trade Commission, and answers are expected from the affected companies around the end of January. The case is expected to take over a year to conclude, but it could have massive ramifications once it is concluded.
First, if UnaliWear succeeds, it can seek a limited restraining order. This would block the importation of affected smartwatches into the US, leaving Apple and Garmin unable to ship some of the most popular smartwatches to US customers. In addition, UnaliWear has filed lawsuits in several U.S. District Courts – if successful there, it could lead to massive financial penalties.
How likely is a ban?
Ultimately, it’s unlikely we’ll see the likes of the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch banned from import into the US.
A more likely possibility is that the big name players may have to license their fall detection technology from UnaliWear. Or they could create a solution or workaround that doesn’t infringe on UnaliWear’s patents, as Apple did when its blood oxygen sensor was deemed to have infringed on patents held by medical technology firm Masimo.
Speaking of which, the Masimo case shows that it’s not the first time Apple has been sued by a smaller company over the technology it uses in its Apple Watch. In the Masimo case, certain models of the Apple Watch were restricted from import to the US, which meant Apple had to disable the feature for US customers – a significant headache for the Cupertino company.
No doubt Apple – and Samsung, Google and Garmin – will avoid anything so drastic this time. If you’re interested in any of these smartwatches and want to know if you’ll still be able to buy one in the future, keep an eye on this case.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
