A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay more than US$5,7 miliar to audio and gaming peripheral maker Taction after finding the tech giant infringed on two patents related to vibration-based tactile transducers. CNBC reported that the verdict centers on U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which cover technology utilized inside the Taptic Engine found across various iPhone and Apple Watch models.
San Diego Jury Finds Apple Liable for Taptic Engine Patents
The federal jury reached its decision on a Friday, ruling that Apple infringed on two claims of one Taction patent and one claim of another. While the jury found the infringement was not willful, the resulting financial penalty surpasses many comparable intellectual property disputes in the United States. According to court filings and reporting, the US$5,7 miliar sum outpaces an ongoing US$3 miliar patent case involving Intel. Taction originally filed the lawsuit in 2021, accusing Apple of utilizing its proprietary haptic feedback technology without a license after previously alleging reverse-engineering from Kannon gaming headsets.
Apple Plans Appeal Against Multibillion-Dollar Verdict
Apple immediately rejected the jury’s decision and the calculated damages, confirming plans to pursue an appeal. That legal maneuver keeps the massive payout from becoming final. The case has already endured a winding procedural path, having been dismissed by a San Diego federal judge in 2023 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived it. Apple routinely challenges high-stakes intellectual property judgments through appellate courts rather than accepting trial outcomes.
Did you know? The Taptic Engine is the specialized component inside iPhones and Apple Watches that produces physical sensations to mimic clicks or resistance when users interact with their screens.
Broader Wearables Patent Battles and Masimo Dispute
The Taction verdict lands alongside other major legal challenges targeting Apple’s wearable and smartphone lineup. In November, another federal jury ordered Apple to pay US$634 juta for infringing on Masimo patents connected to blood oxygen tracking features on the Apple Watch. Immersion also previously sued Apple over haptic technology used in iPhones, Apple Watches, and MacBooks, culminating in a settlement of undisclosed terms. Each of these disputes demonstrates how tightly integrated hardware components in portable devices remain vulnerable to aggressive patent enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Apple sued by Taction?
Taction sued Apple in 2021, claiming that the Taptic Engine in iPhones and Apple Watches uses patented vibration-based tactile transducer technology developed by Taction without proper authorization.
How much is Apple ordered to pay in the Taction case?
A San Diego federal jury ordered Apple to pay more than US$5,7 miliar, though Apple plans to appeal the decision.
Will this verdict change iPhone prices or features immediately?
No. Because Apple is appealing the verdict, the judgment is not legally final, and current devices remain unaffected while the litigation proceeds.
What other patent disputes is Apple currently facing?
Apple recently faced a US$634 juta verdict in a patent dispute with Masimo regarding blood oxygen tracking technology on the Apple Watch.
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