After a victory in a US appeals court, Apple can temporarily sell smartwatches.

Apple has received a reprieve as a US appeals court has paused the import ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) on its flagship smartwatches in a patent dispute. The ITC had ruled that Apple infringed on patents owned by Masimo, a California-based company, related to medical monitoring technology, specifically blood-oxygen level readings.

Apple filed an emergency request with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the ITC's order, and the court's decision allows Apple to resume sales of its smartwatches for now. The ITC's ban had disrupted the sales of certain Apple Watch models, affecting their availability on Apple's website and retail locations in the US.

Masimo accused Apple of stealing its pulse oximetry technology, hiring away its employees, and incorporating the technology into its smartwatches. Apple, in turn, countersued, describing Masimo's legal actions as a move to clear the path for its competing smartwatch.

The court's decision provides Apple with an opportunity to resume sales during the appeals process. Analysts suggest that while a final decision could have financial implications for both companies, the impact on Apple is more likely to be overshadowed by the negative publicity generated by the lawsuit.

The ITC's initial ruling barred the import and sale of Apple Watches with blood-oxygen level reading technology. Apple's Series 6 model, released in 2020, included a pulse oximeter feature. The legal dispute has broader implications for Apple's health-wearable products, prompting the company to explore legal and technical options.

Apple has announced that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States. The court has given the ITC until January 10 to respond to Apple's request for a longer-term pause during the appeals process.