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Apple Owes $5.7 Billion for Infringement of Haptics Patents (2)
Bloomberg Law News • • business
Key Points:
- A federal jury in San Diego found Apple Inc. liable for infringing two patents held by Taction Technology Inc. related to vibration-based technology used in iPhones and Apple Watches, awarding over $5.7 billion in damages.
- The patents in question cover tactile transducers producing bass frequency vibrations, which Apple’s Taptic Engine allegedly incorporates, though the jury ruled the infringement was not willful.
- Apple strongly disagreed with the verdict, stating that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology and announced plans to appeal the decision.
- The case involved complex litigation, including Apple’s attempt to expose Taction’s financial backing from entities linked to Burford Capital Ltd., and a prior dismissal overturned by the US Court of Appeals.
- The lawsuit was filed in 2021, with Apple initially winning dismissal in 2023 before the Federal Circuit revived the case, leading to the recent jury verdict.
