A federal jury in San Diego on Friday awarded Taction Technology $5.7 billion in damages after finding Apple infringed two patents covering vibration-based tactile transducer technology used in haptic feedback systems.
The verdict, one of the largest patent awards in U.S. history, centers on whether Apple's Taptic Engine—the haptic motor in iPhones and Apple Watches—incorporated technology from U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, both held by Taction Technology.
Apple said it strongly disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal, arguing that its Taptic Engine is different from Taction's technology and does not infringe the patents.
Taction filed suit in 2021 and alleged Apple improperly commercialized its vibration technology without a license. The case was initially dismissed in 2023 but revived by the Federal Circuit Court, allowing trial to proceed. Seven jurors deliberated for two days before returning their verdict Friday afternoon. The jury did not find the infringement willful, which affects potential damages multipliers on appeal.
Lance Yang, Taction's lead counsel at Quinn Emanuel, said the verdict vindicated the company's patent rights after a five-and-a-half-year legal process.
Taction is a San Diego-based maker of audio and gaming peripherals. The Taptic Engine is a core component of Apple's mobile and wearables strategy, delivering haptic cues across its product line.
