Apple Ordered to Pay $5.7 Billion Over Haptic Patent Infringement

Apple has been mandated to pay $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology following a federal jury determining that the tech giant had infringed upon two of Taction's haptics patents. Taction initiated legal proceedings against Apple in 2021, contending that Apple's Taptic Engine in its Watches and iPhones utilized Taction's inventions without the requisite authorization or license. Although Apple had initially sought dismissal of the case in 2023, the Federal Circuit had subsequently reinstated it.

Jury proceedings commenced on September 14, with seven jurors deliberating for two days after the conclusion of the case. They returned on Friday to render a verdict in Taction's favor. Lance Yang, Taction's lead counsel, expressed his satisfaction with the jury's decision, stating that the company's patent rights had been upheld. Nevertheless, Apple announced its intention to contest the verdict through an appeal.

Apple maintained that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally distinct from Taction's technology, a conclusion corroborated by Taction's own testing of Apple's products during the trial. Apple asserted that it does not employ Taction's technology, and it will proceed with the appeal. During the verdict at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, the jurors did not find that Apple had infringed upon the patents intentionally.