A US jury has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion to San Diego-based Taction over patented haptic technology used in iPhones and Apple Watches.
The jury ruled on Friday that Apple’s Taptic Engine, which produces tapping and vibration effects, infringed two patents owned by Taction. Apple rejected the ruling and said it would appeal what it described as the largest verdict of its kind in the country.
Apple said its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology. The company also argued that testing conducted by Taction during the trial supported Apple’s position.
Apple, Taction Respond to Verdict
“Apple does not use Taction’s technology, and we will appeal,” Apple said in a statement following the verdict. Taction attorney Lance Yang, meanwhile, welcomed the decision and said the jury had upheld the company’s patent rights.
Taction develops haptic technology for products including headphones and gaming headsets. The company filed its lawsuit against Apple in 2021, accusing the technology giant of infringing its patents.
Apple denied the allegations and argued that Taction’s patents were invalid. However, the legal dispute continued after an appeals court revived the case last year.
Patent Dispute Returns to Federal Court
A San Diego federal judge had ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe the patents. However, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit later revived Taction’s lawsuit, allowing the company’s claims against Apple to proceed.
The latest verdict now puts Apple at risk of a multibillion-dollar payout if the ruling survives the company’s appeal. The case highlights the growing legal battles surrounding technologies that power everyday smartphone and wearable-device features.
The appeal could determine whether Apple ultimately has to pay the record damages awarded by the jury. Until then, the company continues to dispute Taction’s claims and maintains that its technology does not infringe the patents.
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