Apple ordered to pay $5.7 billion in patent infringement case over iPhone and Apple Watch haptics

Jury Finds Apple Infringed Haptics Patents

A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion in damages. The verdict, delivered on Friday, concluded that Apple infringed claims from two of Taction's haptics patents. The jury deliberated for two days before reaching its decision.

Background of the Lawsuit

Taction Technology initiated the lawsuit against Apple in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Taction alleged that Apple was using its patented vibration technology in devices like the Apple Watch and iPhone without proper licensing. Apple had initially won a dismissal in 2023, but the Federal Circuit later revived the case, leading to the recent jury trial.

Patents and Technology Involved

The core of the lawsuit revolved around U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117. Both patents describe vibration-based, tactile transducer technology designed to provide users with feedback when interacting with a device. Taction specifically claimed that Apple's "Taptic Engine," integrated into its iPhones and Apple Watches, utilized these inventions without authorization.

Apple's Response and Future Actions

Apple has stated its intention to appeal the jury's finding. In a statement to Bloomberg Law, the company asserted that it "does not use Taction's technology." The jury did not find Apple's infringement to be willful.