Oura Patent Suit: Texas Court Seeks Halt to Ultrahuman Ring Pro Sales

Oura has initiated a new legal action against Ultrahuman in a federal court in Texas, seeking to stop the sale of the latter’s Ring Pro in the United States. The complaint, which was filed this week, targets the specific device that Ultrahuman released following a prior loss in the market. Oura claims the Ring Pro infringes on two of its patents related to device design and internal hardware components.

The company is requesting monetary damages and a court order that would block the Ring Pro from being sold in the US. This request mirrors the outcome of a previous dispute in which the US International Trade Commission ruled against Ultrahuman last year. That earlier decision resulted in a sales ban for the Ring Air model, which remains available in Europe and other international markets.

Ultrahuman, headquartered in India, modified the Ring Pro specifically to bypass the intellectual property claims that affected the Ring Air. The redesign received clearance from US Customs and Border Protection earlier this year, allowing the product to enter the American market. Oura argues that these changes were insufficient to avoid infringement.

In a blog post, Oura stated that Ultrahuman introduced the modified version while claiming the redesign no longer infringed on its patents. The company called that claim false, noting that the new ring still incorporates many of its patented innovations. Oura added that the device continues to infringe its intellectual property rights.

One of the patents cited in the lawsuit, number 12,769,363, was granted just two days before the complaint was filed. This patent covers a smart ring design that includes a housing, battery, and specific internal components. The suit also names SVTronics, a company in Plano, Texas, which manufactures the US version of the Ring Pro under Ultrahuman’s direction.

Ultrahuman has confirmed it will contest the lawsuit and that the Ring Pro remains on sale in the US. A spokesperson for the company noted that the redesign has already undergone independent review in the United States. The spokesperson said Customs and Border Protection previously concluded the device did not infringe on the specific patent considered during that earlier proceeding.

The spokesperson added that Oura has now chosen to assert different patents, including the one that issued just two days before the filing. The company stated it will defend its position vigorously. This legal battle adds to a period of high visibility for Oura, which recently announced a partnership with the US military and remains in a prolonged patent dispute with Samsung.