Oura sues rival Ultrahuman again, threatening its U.S. smart ring comeback

Oura, a smart ring manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit against Indian rival Ultrahuman, aiming to halt the sale of Ultrahuman's Ring Pro in the U.S. This legal action follows the launch of a redesigned Ring Pro in February, which successfully navigated a U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruling in March after an import ban imposed in August 2023 due to a previous patent infringement ruling by Oura at the International Trade Commission.

Ultrahuman's redesigned Ring Pro incorporates new design and internal components, including a curved battery, circuit board, magnets, and sensors, all covered by two of Oura's patents (D804,471 and 12,769,363). The complaint alleges that both Ultrahuman and Texas-based electronics manufacturer SVTronics are infringing on Oura's patents through the manufacture, importation, and sale of the Ring Pro in the U.S. Oura states that the earlier Customs ruling only covered a single patent from the prior dispute, leaving the two patents in question open to infringement claims.

Ultrahuman has been accused of copying Oura's innovations, with an Oura spokesperson noting that the redesigned ring failed to address continued infringement of Oura's patents. The lawsuit adds to a series of patent disputes Oura has initiated against other smart-ring makers, including Samsung, RingConn, Circular, and Zepp Health, often resulting in licensing agreements where the defendants pay royalties to Oura.

Despite these legal battles, the smart-ring market is expected to grow, with IDC forecasting a 12.8% increase in global shipments to 4.9 million units this year, reaching nearly 6.3 million by 2030. Ultrahuman, despite raising $70 million from investors in September to reach a valuation of about $365 million, is among the emerging competitors in this rapidly expanding sector.