Key facts
- A US jury found Apple owes Taction over $5.7 billion for infringing on its patented haptic technology.
- The verdict is the largest of its kind to date in the US.
- Apple stated it would appeal the ruling.
- Taction filed the lawsuit in 2021, alleging Apple used its technology in the Taptic Engine for iPhones and Apple Watches.
- Apple denied the allegations, stating its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology.
A US jury on Friday ordered Apple to pay San Diego-based Taction more than $5.7 billion for infringing on its patented technology used to power haptic feedback in iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple announced its intention to appeal the verdict, which represents the largest such ruling to date in the country.
The jury determined that Apple's Taptic Engine, responsible for creating vibrations, infringed on two Taction patents. In response, Apple stated, "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial." The company added, "Apple does not use Taction's technology, and we will appeal."
Taction, which utilizes its technology in headphones and gaming headsets, initiated the lawsuit in 2021. Apple had denied the allegations, asserting that the patents were invalid. The case was revived last year by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a San Diego federal judge had initially ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe the patents.