Galaxy Ring and Amazfit Helio face US border fight as Oura escalates
The USITC just officially started an investigation that could effectively wipe out most of Oura’s competition in the United States. This legal move targets Samsung, Zepp Health, Reebok and Nexxbase by accusing them of infringing on Oura’s core smart ring patents.
The border is the new courtroom
Most patent disputes take place in district courts and usually revolve around financial compensation. The USITC process is different. It focuses on unfair imports under Section 337 of the Tariff Act.
If Oura wins, this will not result in a damages payment. Instead, the Commission can issue a limited exclusion order. That would block the Galaxy Ring, Amazfit Helio Ring, Reebok Smart Ring and Luna Ring from entering the US market. Customs would be instructed to stop these products at the border.
The Commission has already issued a similar ruling in the Ultrahuman case, which is now under appeal.
Make no mistake – this is not about money. Oura is trying to build a barrier around the US smart ring market. Even before a final decision, this approach introduces commercial risk. Retailers may hesitate to stock or promote products that could be banned next year.
The ITC announcement yesterday is the formal green light. The Commission has voted to proceed, confirming that Oura’s claims are strong enough to justify a full investigation. The clock now starts ticking toward a possible import ban.
Unlike a civil lawsuit, this process moves quickly. A target date will be announced within 45 days. Final resolution usually arrives within 12 to 15 months.
Samsung is probably the primary target
Samsung’s inclusion is significant. And it is likely a response from Oura to Samsung’s sweeping patent case against the company filed earlier this month.
To remind, Samsung failed to knock out Oura’s core hardware patent so has pressed forward with a new strategy. The battle it is forging appears to be about twelve separate patents they hold, shifting the fight from defense to offense.
Oura’s core argument is that its early R&D laid the foundation for nearly all current smart ring designs. The patents cited include specifics about curved battery structures and sensor layouts within the ring shell.
Licensing might be the simplest path forward, and that is what companies such as RingConn have agreed on. But it doesn’t seem other players, like Samsung, are willing to go down this route.
As far as Zepp Health, there might be a chance they decide to settle early. Unlike Samsung, the company does not have the same legal firepower. A licensing agreement could allow them to keep the Helio Ring on sale in the US, while also sidestepping a drawn-out legal process.
This would almost certainly raise the price of the Helio Ring, as licensing costs get factored into retail pricing. A low-cost smart ring strategy becomes harder to sustain if every unit carries an Oura fee.
The long-term implications for smart rings
If Oura wins, it may end up controlling access to the US smart ring market through licensing. This would mirror how some medical device companies operate, where a single portfolio of patents effectively gates the entire category.
We are likely to see price increases and design shifts. Companies may explore new ring shapes or internal layouts in an attempt to avoid infringement.
For buyers, the key issue is risk. Just like Ultrahuman, any purchase decision around the Galaxy Ring or Helio Ring now has to include the possibility that these products could be pulled from the US market within a year.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Check out our YouTube channel.
And of course, you can follow Gadgets & Wearables on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
