A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion to Taction Technology after finding that the iPhone maker infringed two patents related to haptic technology. The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks a major development in a patent dispute that has been ongoing for several years.
The lawsuit was originally filed by Taction Technology in 2021, alleging that Apple’s devices used patented technology without authorization.
A lower court dismissed the case in 2023, but the dispute was later revived following an appeal, allowing the patent claims to proceed to trial.
The case focuses on Apple’s “Taptic Engine,” a technology used in products such as iPhones and Apple Watches to produce precise vibrations and physical feedback when users interact with their devices.
These haptic responses allow users to feel actions such as pressing buttons, receiving notifications or interacting with different features.
The jury found Apple liable for infringing Taction Technology’s two patents but did not determine that the infringement was willful.
Apple has denied using Taction’s patented technology and has said it intends to challenge the verdict through the legal process.
The multibillion-dollar award represents one of the largest patent-related damages claims involving Apple and could face further legal review as the company pursues its challenge to the decision.
