A federal jury in San Diego has awarded Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion after finding Apple infringed two patents covering vibration-based tactile transducer technology used in its products, in what is being reported as the largest patent verdict in US history.
The jury, at the US District Court for the Southern District of California, found that Apple infringed two patents held by Taction Technology, a San Diego-based haptics firm. Those patents, US Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, both cover vibration-based tactile transducer technology. The jury also found that Apple's infringement was not wilful.
Apple disputed the verdict immediately. 'While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today's verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts,' the company said in a statement following the ruling.
Apple went further, insisting that its Taptic Engine, the proprietary haptic feedback system it has built into iPhones and Apple Watches for years, is 'fundamentally different' from Taction's technology and that it 'does not use Taction's technology' in any of its products.
Taction's legal team, however, said, 'We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights.' Taction attorney Lance Yang expressed satisfaction with the jury's decision, which he said vindicated those patent rights.
What Apple's Taptic Engine Actually Does, and Why the Patents Matter
Apple introduced the Taptic Engine with the original Apple Watch in 2014, before bringing it to the iPhone 6s in 2015. The system uses a linear actuator to generate controlled, distinct physical sensations rather than the conventional vibration approach used in earlier phones. A gentle tap for a notification. A firm click when a button is pressed. A rhythmic pulse for a turn-by-turn navigation cue.
Taction argued that Apple's implementation of this technology in its devices fell within the claims of its patents. The jury agreed. Apple argued the opposite, maintaining that the underlying engineering of the Taptic Engine sets it apart from anything Taction invented or patented.
How a $5.7 Billion Number Gets Calculated in a Patent Case
In US patent law, a plaintiff seeking damages for infringement can pursue what is known as a reasonable royalty, calculated based on what a willing licensor and willing licensee would have agreed to in a hypothetical negotiation at the time infringement began.
The precise damages calculation in Taction's case depends on the evidence presented at trial and the jury's determination. The verdict awarded Taction more than $5.7 billion in damages.
Apple made clear it will not accept the verdict as final. The company told Bloomberg Law it intends to appeal, reiterating that it does not use Taction's technology.
Apple's scale puts the $5.7 billion award at roughly 1.4% of its fiscal 2025 revenue, but the figure is more than 5% of the company's $112 billion in net income for that year. More importantly, the award is not yet final: Apple has said it will appeal.
