Apple to appeal $5.7 billion haptic technology verdict

SAN DIEGO, California: Apple said it would appeal after a U.S. jury ordered the company to pay more than $5.7 billion to San Diego-based Taction in a patent dispute over the technology used to produce vibrations in iPhones and Apple Watches. The verdict is the largest of its kind in the United States to date. The jury found that Apple's Taptic Engine, which creates tapping vibrations, infringed two patents held by Taction. "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial," Apple said in response. "Apple does not use Taction's technology, and we will appeal," it added in a statement. Taction, which uses its technology in headphones and gaming headsets, filed the lawsuit in 2021. Apple denied the allegations and argued that the patents were invalid. "We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights," said Taction attorney Lance Yang. The case was revived last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a federal judge in San Diego ruled in 2023 that Apple had not infringed the patents.