A U.S. appeals court has granted a temporary pause on the import ban of Apple Watches that was imposed following a patent infringement ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC). The ITC found that Apple’s feature for reading blood-oxygen levels on the Apple Watch violated Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents. President Joe Biden’s administration had the opportunity to veto the ITC’s order but chose not to. Apple has appealed the ban to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and during the appeals process, the court has temporarily halted the ban. This means that Apple can continue importing and selling the infringing Apple Watches while the court considers whether to put the ban on hold for the duration of the appeals process.

The ban specifically applies to Apple Watches with the light-based pulse oximetry capability in question, but it does not specify which models are affected. Apple had previously paused the U.S. sales of its high-end Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in anticipation of the ban. However, the ban does not affect the lower-priced Apple Watch SE, which does not have pulse oximetry capabilities.

Masimo, a medical-monitoring technology company, accused Apple of infringing its patents and also alleged that Apple had hired away its employees and stolen its technology. Masimo released its own watch last year with similar health-monitoring features. Apple has countered these allegations by calling them a scheme to clear the path for Masimo’s competing smartwatch. Apple has also filed a countersuit against Masimo for patent infringement.

In addition to its appeal, Apple is also working on a redesign for its watches to operate without infringing on Masimo’s patents. If U.S. Customs and Border Protection approves the redesigned watches, Apple would be able to import and sell them regardless of the ban. The decision on the workaround is scheduled to be made on January 12.

Masimo has indicated that it is open to settling the dispute, and its CEO, Joe Kiani, has expressed a willingness to negotiate.

It remains to be seen what the final outcome will be, but for now, the temporary pause on the import ban is a favorable development for Apple and its customers.