Smart Ring Wars: Oura Sues to Halt Ring Pro Sales

Oura has filed a new patent infringement lawsuit against Ultrahuman and its manufacturer, SVTronics, in a Texas federal court. The complaint targets the Ring Pro, a wearable Ultrahuman launched after a previous product was blocked from the US market. Oura alleges the device violates two patents related to its design and internal parts.

The legal conflict began last year when the US International Trade Commission ruled that Ultrahuman’s Ring Air infringed on several Oura patents. That decision resulted in a ban on US sales of the Ring Air, though the device continues to sell in Europe and other regions. Following that loss, Ultrahuman, which is headquartered in India, redesigned its product to avoid the specific intellectual property rights cited in the initial ruling.

Earlier this year, US Customs and Border Protection reviewed the redesign and granted approval for the Ring Pro to enter the American market. Oura argues that this approval does not clear the device of all potential infringement. The company stated that the modifications were insufficient and that the Ring Pro still uses patented innovations.

"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," Oura wrote in a blog post. The company added that the new device "still incorporates many of Oura's patented innovations and continues to infringe our intellectual property."

One of the patents at issue, number 12,769,363, was granted two days before the lawsuit was filed. The patent covers a smart ring design that includes a housing, battery, and specific internal components. Oura named SVTronics as a co-defendant because the Ring Pro for the US market is assembled at a facility in Plano, Texas, under Ultrahuman’s direction.

Ultrahuman has responded that it will challenge the suit. The company noted that the Ring Pro has undergone independent review in the US. A spokesperson told Engadget that Customs and Border Protection previously concluded the device did not infringe the patent considered in that earlier proceeding. The spokesperson said Oura has now asserted different patents, including the one issued just before the filing, and that Ultrahuman will "defend our position vigorously."

The Ring Pro remains available for purchase in the United States while the case proceeds. This new filing adds to a series of legal disputes for Oura, which is also involved in a long-running patent fight with Samsung and recently announced a partnership with the US military involving a Palantir hosting environment.