Oura sues to block US sales of Ultrahuman Ring Pro over two patents

Oura has filed a new lawsuit in a Texas federal court seeking to halt US sales of the Ultrahuman Ring Pro. The complaint alleges that the smart ring infringes two distinct patents held by the Finnish company. Oura is requesting monetary damages and a court order to stop the device from being sold in the United States.

The legal action targets the Ring Pro, a product Ultrahuman launched after a previous dispute over its Ring Air model. Last year, the US International Trade Commission ruled that the Ring Air violated several Oura patents. That ruling resulted in a ban on US sales of the Ring Air, though the device remains available in Europe and other international markets.

Following that ban, Ultrahuman redesigned the Ring Pro to avoid the earlier intellectual property issues. US Customs and Border Protection approved the redesign earlier this year. However, Oura contends that the changes were insufficient. The company stated on its blog that the new ring still incorporates many of its patented innovations and continues to infringe its intellectual property.

A timing detail in the filing has drawn attention. TechCrunch reported that one of the patents cited in the suit, number 12,769,363, was granted only two days before the complaint was filed. This patent broadly covers a smart ring design featuring a housing, a battery, and specific internal components. Oura also named SVTronics as a defendant in the case. SVTronics is the Texas-based manufacturer that builds the US version of the Ring Pro at a plant in Plano under Ultrahuman's direction.

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

The Ultrahuman representative added that Oura has chosen to assert different patents in this new lawsuit. The company said it would defend its position vigorously. This dispute adds to a period of legal activity for Oura, which is also engaged in a prolonged patent fight with Samsung and recently announced a partnership involving a Palantir hosting environment for the US military.