Oura Sues Ultrahuman Again to Block Its Latest Smart Ring From the US Market
It claims Ultrahuman's Ring Pro violates two separate patents, including a brand new one.
Legal Action
Last year, Oura successfully sued Ultrahuman and got a court to block sales of its Ring Air product in the US. Now, Oura has sued Ultrahuman again in a Texas federal court over its latest product, the Ring Pro, saying it violates two of its patents involving design and internal components, according to an Oura blog post. Oura is seeking monetary damages and wants to stop Ultrahuman from selling its latest wearable.
After it was found to be infringing Oura patents, Ultrahuman recently introduced a modified version of its ring, claiming its redesign no longer infringed our patents. That claim is false. Ultrahuman's latest ring still incorporates many of Oura's patented innovations and continues to infringe our intellectual property, Oura claimed in the post.
Redesign and US Custom Approval
India-based Ultrahuman's Ring Air was banned for sale in the US after the ITC ruled that it violated several Oura patents, though it remains on sale in Europe and other markets. Ultrahuman subsequently redesigned its Ring Pro to avoid violating Oura's IP in America and received approval from the US Customs and Border Protection earlier this year.
New Patent Filings
However, Finland-based Oura now says that Ultrahuman is violating two separate patents, including one that was approved just two days before the company filed its lawsuit. That patent broadly covers a smart ring design with a housing, battery, and specific internal components. The Ring Pro is manufactured at a plant in Plano, Texas, for the US market by a company called SVTronics under Ultrahuman's direction, and Oura also named SVTronics as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Ultrahuman Response
Ultrahuman said it would fight Oura's legal action and that its Ring Pro remains on sale in the US. The Ring Pro redesign has already been through independent review in the United States, following an earlier patent proceeding, and US Customs and Border Protection determined that the device did not infringe the Oura patent considered in that proceeding. An Ultrahuman spokesperson stated that Oura has now chosen to assert different patents, including one that issued just two days before the lawsuit was filed, and that the company will defend its position vigorously through the appropriate legal process.
Oura has also been involved in other legal battles, including a preemptive lawsuit involving Samsung over the launch of the Galaxy Ring.
Update October 23, 7:53 AM ET: The article has been updated with Ultrahuman's statement to Engadget.
