Oura Sues Ultrahuman in Texas to Halt Ring Pro Sales
The smart ring maker claims the redesigned device infringes two patents, including one issued just 48 hours before the complaint was filed.
By Owen Turner ·
Oura has filed a new lawsuit in federal court in Texas against Ultrahuman and SVTronics. The complaint alleges that the Ring Pro, a smart ring released after a previous legal defeat, violates two of Oura’s intellectual property rights.
The suit targets the Ring Pro, which Ultrahuman launched in the United States following a redesign. Oura states the device infringes patents covering its physical design and internal components. The company is seeking monetary damages and a court order to stop US sales of the product.
Oura points to a specific patent, number 12,769,363, as the basis for part of its claim. TechCrunch reported that this patent was granted only two days before Oura filed the complaint. The patent describes a smart ring housing, battery, and specific internal parts. Oura argues the Ring Pro still uses these patented innovations despite the changes.
Ultrahuman is based in India and claims its redesign was intended to avoid Oura’s IP in the American market. The company received approval from US Customs and Border Protection earlier this year for the new design. In a statement to Engadget, an Ultrahuman spokesperson said the redesign had already undergone independent review in the US. The spokesperson noted that Customs found the Ring Pro did not infringe the specific patent considered in that earlier proceeding.
The dispute follows a similar case last year where Oura won against Ultrahuman. The US International Trade Commission ruled that the original Ring Air violated several Oura patents. That ruling led to a ban on US sales of the Ring Air, though the device remains available in Europe. Oura is now naming SVTronics as a defendant because the company builds the US version of the Ring Pro in Plano, Texas.
Oura wrote on its blog that Ultrahuman’s claim that the redesign fixed the infringement is false. The company said the new ring continues to infringe its intellectual property. Ultrahuman says it will vigorously defend its position and the Ring Pro remains on sale in the US. The case adds to a period of legal activity for Oura, which is also in a patent fight with Samsung and recently announced a partnership with the US military involving a Palantir hosting environment.
Source: Engadget
