Apple Inc. will stop selling the latest versions of its smartwatch in the U.S. due to a patent dispute, taking the devices off the market in the middle of the busy holiday season.

Sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will be halted on the company’s online store on Dec. 21 and at its physical retail stores beginning on Christmas Eve.

The move comes ahead of the anticipated import ban of Apple Watch models with a blood oxygen sensor — first added to the lineup in 2020 — stemming from a legal battle with Masimo Corp.

The International Trade Commission ruled in October that Apple violates Masimo patents. The patents relate to an Apple Watch app that allows the device to calculate a person’s blood oxygen saturation.

A presidential review of that order is now underway. “While the review period will not end until Dec. 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand,” the company said.

EU takes up X probe

The European Union on Monday made Elon Musk’s online platform X the first tech company to face an investigation under Europe’s tough new regulations designed to protect people from toxic online content.

“Today we open formal infringement proceedings against @X” under the Digital Services Act, European Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a post on the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The 27-nation bloc is ratcheting up the pressure on X after asking the company in October for information on its handling of hate speech, misinformation and violent terrorist content related to the Israel-Hamas war.

“X is focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal,” the company said in a statement.