A federal court jury in the Southern District of California has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7bn for infringing two patents held by Taction Technology. The legal dispute centers on haptic feedback technology, which produces the vibrations experienced by users when pressing a button or receiving a notification.
Following the verdict, Taction attorney Lance Yang stated that the company was pleased with the jury’s decision and the vindication of its patent rights.
Background of the legal dispute
The court decision concludes a legal battle that started in 2021 when Taction initially filed its lawsuit. In its original 31-page complaint, Taction alleged that Apple capitalized on its innovations without a license or authority, and claimed Apple willfully blinded itself to the infringing nature of the products. Although a federal judge ruled in 2023 that Apple had not infringed the patents, an appeals court revived the litigation the following year.
The jury ultimately determined that Apple infringed the two Taction patents, though it did not find the violation to be willful.
Apple’s response and market reaction
Apple announced its intention to appeal the verdict. In a statement, the company maintained that its Taptic Engine differs fundamentally from Taction’s technology, noting that Taction’s own product testing during the trial confirmed the distinction.
Trading on Monday saw Apple shares drop by approximately two percent. The trial conclusion coincides with a period of transition for the company, following John Ternus assuming the role of CEO from Tim Cook in September.
