Finnish wearable maker Oura has scored an initial legal victory against Indian startup Ultrahuman and Chinese rival RingConn in a high-stakes patent infringement case in the US. The US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled on April 26 that both companies violated Oura’s patents related to smart ring technology.
The determination marks the first phase of the ITC’s investigation, with a final decision expected later this year.
This development comes at a critical moment for Ultrahuman, which is reportedly in talks to raise over $120 million in fresh funding from WestBridge Capital and other private equity investors, as first reported by Moneycontrol. The Bengaluru-based company has been positioning itself as a strong alternative to Oura, offering similar health-tracking features without a recurring subscription fee.
In a blog post, Oura said the ALJ conducted a claim-by-claim analysis and found that the Ultrahuman Ring Air and RingConn Smart Ring infringed on “every element of every asserted claim” of its patents. The disputed technologies include Oura’s dual-housing design, curved battery innovation, and advanced biometric sensors.
Ultrahuman has strongly denied the allegations. “We respectfully but firmly disagree with the recent initial determination and remain confident in our position. Our fast-scaling Texas facility is set to cover 100 percent of US demand within the next 2–3 months—underscoring our commitment to domestic operations and customer-first innovation,” an Ultrahuman spokesperson told ZDNet.
The ITC ruling also flagged concerns around the credibility of documentation submitted by Ultrahuman, including allegations that it submitted false evidence related to its manufacturing facility in Texas. Oura claimed the company had “falsified evidence” during the proceedings.
Smart rings are compact wearable devices that monitor health metrics like sleep quality, activity levels, and glucose data. The market for such devices is rapidly growing, with several players vying to challenge Oura’s early lead.
If the ITC upholds the ALJ’s findings, it could issue a cease-and-desist order against Ultrahuman and RingConn, blocking them from selling their devices in the US. The companies may also be forced to disable certain features or redesign their products to comply with patent laws.
The final ruling could reshape the competitive landscape of the smart ring market, especially for challengers looking to scale in the US.
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