A new legal fight in the United States could soon put pressure on some of the biggest names in wearables, with something as familiar as “fall detection” sitting at the center of the dispute. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has officially opened an investigation that may eventually lead to an import or sales ban on certain smartwatches in the U.S., depending on how the case unfolds.
The complaint comes from UnaliWear, a company that isn’t widely known among mainstream smartwatch shoppers but claims it holds patented fall detection technology. Fall detection has become a key safety feature across modern smartwatches, designed to recognize when a wearer takes a hard fall and then trigger an alert. If the person doesn’t respond in time, the watch may notify an emergency contact or prompt additional safety steps, depending on the device settings and platform.
UnaliWear alleges that multiple major companies are using this patented fall detection technology without proper licensing. The USITC lists several firms as subjects of the investigation, including Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung—all of which offer fall detection in various smartwatch models.
It’s important to note that this is still the early stage of the process. The USITC has emphasized that the investigation has only just begun and that there is no ruling yet. A final decision is not expected in the immediate weeks ahead, meaning the case could take time to develop.
Why does this matter to everyday smartwatch buyers? Because USITC patent disputes can carry serious consequences. If the commission ultimately sides with the patent holder, the outcome can include restrictions on importing affected products into the U.S. market. That kind of decision can disrupt availability, influence pricing, and potentially force companies to change features, update software, or negotiate licensing deals to keep products on shelves.
For now, the biggest question is how the investigation will conclude—and whether the USITC determines that the fall detection implementations in these smartwatches violate UnaliWear’s patents. Another open issue is how any U.S.-focused action would affect markets outside the United States, since trade actions and sales restrictions don’t always translate globally in the same way.
Until a decision is reached, smartwatch brands and consumers are left waiting, while one of the most popular safety features in wearables faces heightened legal scrutiny in one of the world’s most important markets.
