Ultrahuman loses first round in patent battle against Oura, may face US ban

Smart ring company Oura has secured an initial legal victory in its patent infringement case against Indian rival Ultrahuman, the Finland-originated company said in a blog post. In a ruling issued on April 26, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found that the company had violated key patents related to Oura's smart ring technology.

The development comes as Ultrahuman is in talks to raise a large funding round of around $120 million, which could boost its valuation to nearly $600 million.

According to the ITC’s preliminary determination, Ultrahuman’s Ring Air and China-based RingConn’s Smart Ring were found to have violated multiple claims across Oura’s patents. These patents cover several core aspects of Oura’s smart ring, including its dual-housing design, curved battery structure, and integrated health sensors.

The ruling could lead to a U.S. import and sales ban on the infringing products by UltraHuman and RingConn’s Smart Ring if upheld by the full Commission. This would be a major setback for Ultrahuman and RingConn as they aim to grow their business in the American market.

The ITC also flagged concerns around the credibility of some of Ultrahuman’s evidence, with indications of discrepancies and possible falsification related to manufacturing documentation.

Oura has emphasized the importance of defending its intellectual property amid increasing competition in the smart ring segment. The company has become a key player in the global wearable market, with a strong user base in health and wellness tracking.

The final decision from the ITC is still pending and is expected to have broader implications for how smart wearable IP is enforced in the U.S.

"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% of U.S. demand within the next 2–3 months—underscoring our commitment to domestic operations and customer-first innovation." said an Ultrahuman spokesperson.

 "This category has enormous potential to transform human health, but it has too often been shaped by companies that rely on legal intimidation, legacy patent acquisitions, and questionable procurement tactics rather than innovation. One example is the recently canceled $96 million U.S. Department of Defense contract that had been awarded to a competitor, which was terminated after a protest to the Government Accountability Office. We will continue to challenge anti-competitive behavior, defend real innovation, and fight for a more transparent and merit-driven future in this industry—regardless of how long it takes or who’s on the other side," the spokesperson added.

Coming back to Ultrahuman, the company has raised over $60 million to date from investors including Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal, Nexus Ventures, Blume Ventures, and Alpha Wave. The firm also claimed to have reported an operating revenue of $74.5 million (approximately Rs 620 crore) for the calendar year 2024 (CY24), with an 11% profit before tax (PBT) and 8% EBITDA.