Oura seeks US ban on Ultrahuman Ring Pro

Patent 12,769,363 was granted just two days before Oura filed its new complaint in Texas federal court. The suit targets the Ultrahuman Ring Pro, a device the India-based company introduced after losing a previous dispute over its Ring Air model. Oura alleges the new ring infringes on two of its patents covering design and internal components. The complaint also names SVTronics, the Plano, Texas plant that builds the US version of the device under Ultrahuman's direction.

Oura is asking the court for monetary damages and a ban on US sales. This mirrors the remedy granted in last year's ruling. The US International Trade Commission then found that the Ring Air violated several Oura patents. That decision stopped US sales of the older model, though it remains available in Europe and other regions. Ultrahuman subsequently redesigned the hardware to avoid those specific intellectual property claims.

The redesign received approval from US Customs and Border Protection earlier this year. Oura argues the changes were not sufficient to clear its patents. In a blog post, the Finland-based company stated that the claim of a non-infringing redesign is false. The company wrote that the new ring still incorporates many of Oura's patented innovations. It added that the device continues to infringe its intellectual property.

Ultrahuman says it will contest the action and keep the Ring Pro on sale in the US. A spokesperson told Engadget that the redesign has already been through independent review in the United States. The spokesperson noted that Customs and Border Protection concluded the Ring Pro did not infringe the patent considered in that earlier proceeding. The company said Oura has now chosen to assert different patents, including one that issued just two days before the lawsuit was filed. Ultrahuman stated it would defend its position vigorously.

This legal battle adds to a busy period for Oura. The company recently announced a partnership with the US military that uses a Palantir hosting environment. It is also engaged in a prolonged patent fight with Samsung. Samsung pre-emptively sued Oura in 2024, concerned that Oura planned to take action against the Galaxy Ring. Oura later sued Samsung in response. As of this summer, the two companies remained locked in that dispute.