Oura has filed a patent lawsuit against Indian wearable maker Ultrahuman in a Texas court, seeking to block U.S. sales of the Ring Pro. The legal action alleges unauthorized use of proprietary sensor and battery technology, creating uncertainty for the startup that recently secured $70 million in funding.
Oura, a dominant player in the smart ring sector, has launched a legal battle against the Indian startup Ultrahuman in a Texas federal court. The complaint alleges that Ultrahuman’s Ring Pro device infringes upon two of its patents, specifically regarding internal hardware designs like curved batteries and sensor configurations. One of these patents, identified in court filings as number 12,769,363, was issued just days before the lawsuit was initiated.
Beyond seeking financial damages, Oura has asked the court for a permanent injunction. If granted, this could force Ultrahuman to stop selling the Ring Pro in the United States, a key growth market. The lawsuit also names Plano-based manufacturer SVTronics as a co-defendant, claiming that the company plays a role in producing and distributing the products that Oura alleges contain its technology. For a startup, legal battles involving manufacturing partners can create supply chain risks and divert management attention from product development.
This legal challenge is part of a broader trend where Oura has actively used the court system to challenge competitors. The company has previously pursued legal action against several other firms in the wearable space, including Samsung and RingConn. While some of these disputes have resulted in private licensing agreements where rivals pay a fee to use technology, Oura has taken a more confrontational approach with Ultrahuman.
The timing of this lawsuit is significant for Ultrahuman. The company recently raised $70 million in funding at a valuation of $365 million, signaling strong interest from investors in the smart ring space. The firm has been aggressively expanding its capabilities, including a partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm to bring advanced artificial intelligence processing directly to its devices. Legal fees and the risk of a market ban can impact the cash reserves and growth plans of a startup that is currently scaling its operations.
The global smart ring market is growing, with industry data from IDC projecting shipments to reach 4.9 million units this year, representing a growth of 12.8%. As competition heats up, intellectual property is becoming a major battleground. The core monitorable for the business now will be how Ultrahuman defends these claims and whether the legal pressure forces any changes to its U.S. sales strategy or manufacturing processes. Investors and followers of the company will watch for court updates, as the outcome could set a precedent for how the firm handles technology disputes in international markets.