Oura seeks $ in new Texas suit against Ultrahuman's Ring Pro

The smart ring market is tightening as legal costs rise for competing manufacturers. Oura has filed a new lawsuit in a Texas federal court to halt US sales of Ultrahuman's Ring Pro.

The complaint names Ultrahuman and SVTronics, the Plano, Texas plant that builds the US version of the device, as defendants. Oura claims the Ring Pro violates two specific patents covering the ring's design and internal components. The company is seeking monetary damages and a court order to stop the device from being sold in the United States.

This legal action follows a previous victory for Oura in a dispute over the Ring Air. Last year, the US International Trade Commission ruled that the Ring Air infringed on several Oura patents, resulting in a ban on its US sales. The Ring Air remains available in Europe and other international markets.

Ultrahuman redesigned the Ring Pro to navigate US intellectual property rules. US Customs and Border Protection approved the redesign earlier this year. However, Oura argues the changes were insufficient. "After it was found to be infringing Oura patents, Ultrahuman recently introduced a modified version of its ring, claiming its redesign no longer infringed our patents. That claim is false," the company stated in a blog post.

TechCrunch reported that one of the patents cited in the suit, Patent 12,769,363, was granted only two days before the complaint was filed. This patent covers a smart ring design with a housing, battery, and specific internal parts. Oura contends the new ring still incorporates these patented innovations.

Ultrahuman says it will contest the case and that the Ring Pro remains on sale in the US. A spokesperson told Engadget that the redesign passed independent review by Customs and Border Protection. The company noted that Oura is now asserting different patents, including the one issued just before the lawsuit. "We will defend our position vigorously," the spokesperson said.

The suit adds to a period of legal activity for Oura. The company recently announced a partnership with the US military involving a Palantir hosting environment. It also continues a patent dispute with Samsung, which began when Samsung sued Oura in 2024 over the Galaxy Ring. The two companies remained in that fight as of this summer.