Apple must pay $5.7 billion for infringing on patents held by Taction Technology, a US jury ruled on Friday. The patents relate to Apple’s Taptic Engine, which is the hardware Apple uses to provide haptic feedback for notifications, button presses, and other interactions.
Taction first filed the lawsuit in 2021, alleging Apple had “infringed and continues to infringe, directly and indirectly” its patents.
As reported by CNBC, the lawsuit centered around two patents:
- U.S. Patent No. 10,659,885
- U.S. Patent No. 10,820,117
Both patents are focused on a “vibration module for applying vibrational tractions to a wearer’s skin.” Taction argued that Apple’s Taptic Engine infringes upon its patents, saying that Apple was “capitalizing on Taction’s innovation and success.”
Apple’s Taptic Engine first debuted as part of the Apple Watch in 2014 and came to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus the following year, replacing the older vibration motor.
In a statement, an Apple spokesperson said:
Taction Technology is a California-based company that describes itself as being “obsessed by sound.” The company says that its “Transporter Technology powers the game-changing Corsair HS60 Haptic headphones, and will soon be powering other premium headphones from major manufacturers.”
In a statement to CNBC, Taction’s lead counsel said:
You can read the original complaint for patent infringement filed by Taction here and Friday’s jury ruling here.
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