SAN DIEGO, United States — Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7 billion (£4.3 billion) after a US jury found that the technology giant infringed patents covering haptic technology used to create vibrations in devices.
Audio technology company Taction Technology sued Apple in 2021, alleging that the company had used technology covered by two of its patents without permission.
The patents relate to haptic systems, which allow electronic devices to simulate the sense of touch through controlled vibrations.
The technology is used in products including smartphones and smartwatches, allowing users to receive tactile feedback when performing actions such as pressing a button or receiving a notification.
Apple disputed the allegations and said it would appeal the verdict.
“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,” Apple said.
The company maintained that its Taptic Engine technology is fundamentally different from Taction’s inventions.
“Apple’s Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology, which Taction’s own testing of Apple’s products confirmed during trial,” the company said.
How Apple’s Haptic Technology Works
Haptics allow users to interact with electronic devices through simulated sensations of touch or movement.
Modern smartphones, smartwatches and gaming controllers commonly use small motors that respond to electronic signals to produce precise vibrations.
Apple introduced its Taptic Engine with the Apple Watch in 2014 and has since expanded and refined the technology across its product range.
Taction, which manufactures headphones and gaming headsets, alleged that improvements Apple made to its haptic systems infringed patents issued to the company in 2020.
The firm argued that Apple had benefited commercially from its innovations by incorporating the technology into devices sold to consumers.
Taction also accused Apple of using its inventions without a licence or authorisation.
Earlier Ruling Overturned
The latest verdict follows a lengthy legal battle.
A San Diego judge ruled in 2023 that Apple had not infringed Taction’s patents.
The case was subsequently taken up by a federal appeals court before proceeding to a September jury trial at the US District Court for the Southern District of California.
The jury ultimately found Apple liable for patent infringement.
However, jurors did not find that Apple had deliberately infringed the patents.
The case is among several patent disputes Apple has faced in recent years.
In November 2025, a judge ordered the company to pay $634 million to medical technology firm Masimo after a jury found that Apple had infringed a patent relating to blood-oxygen monitoring technology.
