A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay over $5.7 billion in damages to haptics technology firm Taction after finding that the tech giant infringed on two vibration-based patents used in iPhones and Apple Watches. The verdict concludes a legal battle that began in 2021 when Taction first filed its infringement complaint.
The Patents and Technology Behind the Lawsuit
The federal lawsuit centered on U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117. Both patents involve tactile transducer technology that utilizes vibrations to help users physically feel a device responding to their input. According to court filings covered by CNBC, Taction argued that Apple incorporated this proprietary vibration-based technology into the Taptic Engine found inside iPhones and Apple Watches without securing a proper license.
During the trial, Taction accused Apple of reverse-engineering the haptic technology from two Kannon gaming headsets. The jury ultimately agreed that Apple infringed on two separate claims within the first patent and one claim within the second patent. However, the jury’s verdict did not find that Apple’s infringement was willful.
Apple Response and Next Steps in Court
Following the multi-billion dollar verdict, representatives for Apple stated that the company intends to appeal the decision.
Further updates on the appeal will follow as federal court filings develop.
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