A U.S. jury on Friday ordered Apple to pay more than 5.7 billion dollars to Taction after finding that technologies used in iPhones and Apple Watches infringed two patents owned by the San Diego-based company.
Vibration engine at the heart of the dispute
The jury found that the Taptic Engine, which Apple uses to produce haptic vibrations and pulses in its devices, infringed two patents owned by Taction. It is the largest ruling of its kind in the United States to date.
Apple said its engine differs substantially from Taction’s technology, and that tests conducted by Taction on Apple products during the trial confirmed the difference. The company denied using Taction’s technology and said it would appeal the ruling.
Taction lawyer Lance Yang said the company welcomed the jury’s decision, which upheld its patent rights. Taction uses its technology in headphones and gaming headsets.
Legal battle began in 2021
Taction filed the lawsuit against Apple in 2021. The iPhone maker denied the patent-infringement allegations and argued that the patents were invalid.
The case shifted course last year when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the lawsuit after a federal judge in San Diego ruled in 2023 that Apple had not infringed the patents at issue. The jury’s decision does not mark the end of the legal dispute, as Apple plans to appeal it.
