Apple ordered to pay $5.7bn after losing vibration tech patent suit

Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages following a US jury's ruling that the tech giant had used audio firm Taction Technology's haptics system without permission. Taction Technology claimed in 2021 that Apple had infringed two of its patents related to haptics technology, which is used to create vibration sensations in devices such as iPhones and Apple Watches.

Apple has stated that it did not use Taction's technology and plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology. Haptics, or touch feedback, have become a key feature in modern devices, allowing users to interact with them through simulated touch or feel. Apple's Taptic Engine, introduced in the Apple Watch in 2014, has since been improved and used in various other devices.

Taction Technology, known for making headphones and gaming headsets, had claimed that Apple's improvements in haptic feedback infringed upon its 2020 patents. Apple had previously lost a 2023 ruling but appealed, leading to the recent federal trial where the jury sided with Taction Technology. This verdict is one of several similar suits that Apple has faced recently, including a $634 million judgment to medical tech company Masimo in November 2025 for allegedly infringing upon a blood-oxygen reading patent.