A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay over $5.7 billion after finding the company infringed on two of Taction Technology's haptics patents.
Key facts
- •The jury returned the verdict in favor of Taction on Friday, September 18, 2026.
- •The damages award of over $5.7 billion is considered one of the largest in a U.S. patent infringement case.
- •Apple’s lead counsel for Taction, Lance Yang, stated the company waited five and a half years for the case to reach trial.
- •The jury did not find that Apple's infringement of the two patents was willful.
- •Apple plans to appeal the verdict, arguing the damages are unsupported by the facts.
A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages after determining the company infringed on two patents held by Taction Technology. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021, alleged that Apple’s "Taptic Engine" used in iPhones and Apple Watches improperly utilized Taction’s vibration-based tactile transducer technology. Apple has stated it disagrees with the verdict and intends to appeal the decision.
By the numbers
The Legal Dispute
Taction Technology alleged that Apple capitalized on its innovations without proper licensing. The case focused on U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which relate to technology allowing devices to provide tactile feedback to user input. While the case was initially dismissed in 2023, it was later revived by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. During the trial, which began on September 14, 2026, the jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict. The jury explicitly found that Apple’s infringement was not willful. Apple maintains that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology and noted that Taction’s own testing during the trial confirmed this distinction.
Broader Patent Litigation
This verdict follows other recent legal challenges for Apple regarding its wearable technology. The company is currently involved in a separate patent dispute with Masimo concerning blood-oxygen tracking features on the Apple Watch, for which a federal jury previously ordered a $634 million payment. Additionally, Apple previously faced a lawsuit from Immersion regarding haptic technology, which concluded in an undisclosed settlement.
Timeline
- 2021Taction Technology files a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in San Diego.
- 2023A federal judge dismisses the Taction lawsuit, which is later revived by the Federal Circuit.
- September 14, 2026The jury trial begins in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
- September 18, 2026The jury delivers a verdict in favor of Taction.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CNBC Technology, Engadget, Engadget.
