Apple is being ordered to pay an extra $184 million to Masimo as part of the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor trial, as an interest payment on top of the existing $634 million fine. In November 2025, Masimo was awarded $634 million in compensation, after a federal jury agreed heart rate notification features and the Apple Watch workout mode violated its patents. Eleven months later, Apple has to pay even more.
An October 5 ruling by Federal Judge James Selina rejected an argument from Apple that adding interest to the existing award would be a windfall for Masimo, reports Bloomberg Law. The judge cited guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court that the interest from the time that royalty payments would have been normally received "merely serves to make the patent holder whole."In short, it's not a windfall, it's what Masimo was due, and now Apple has to pay it. The interest brings the total payments from Apple to Masimo up to $818 million.
It's not entirely bad news for Apple. It could've paid a lot more. The judge rejected Masimo's demand for an interest rate of 7%, and instead decided that the payment would be based on Masimo's own borrowing rate, compounding.
If Masimo had its way, Apple would be paying $243 million in interest, an increase of $59 million.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing