Apple wins smartwatch classification case in Russia’s Supreme Court

MOSCOW, Sep 14 (PRIME) -- The judicial panel for economic disputes of Russia’s Supreme Court has found illegal three decisions of lower courts supporting a move of the central branch of the Federal Customs Service to change the classification of the Apple Watch, a court spokesperson said on Thursday.

The customs authority classified Apple’s smartwatches in November 2015 as ordinary wristwatches that are subject to import duties up to 10%, while earlier the gadgets were regarded as devices to transfer data and were imported duty-free.

The Supreme Court’s panel rejected all previous decisions of three lower courts, which backed up the customs service.

The federal service classified the Apple Watch as a wristwatch because one of its main components is a time-counting mechanism, which can have any shape.

Apple’s spokespeople said that the device is multi-functional, and it is impossible to point out a main component.

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