Apple has been ordered by a US jury to pay $5.7bn in damages following a patent infringement case brought by audio technology firm Taction Technology. The dispute centers on haptics systems that produce vibrations in electronic devices to provide tactile feedback for user interactions such as receiving messages or pressing buttons.
Taction initially filed its complaint in 2021, claiming that Apple infringed upon two of its patents covering haptic technology. The company alleged that Apple incorporated Taction’s patented vibration systems into its devices, including iPhones and Apple Watches, without authorization or licensing agreements. Taction further contended that Apple benefited from Taction’s innovation by improving the haptic experience in its products, thereby enhancing overall user satisfaction and device appeal.
Apple’s haptic feedback system, known as the Taptic Engine, first appeared in the Apple Watch in 2014 and has since been integrated across additional Apple devices. The company has maintained that its vibration technology operates on fundamentally different principles than Taction’s system. Apple noted that Taction’s own testing of Apple products during trial supported this position, and the company stated it would challenge the verdict through the appeals process.
A San Diego judge initially ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe Taction’s patents. However, the case proceeded to a federal appeals court, which led to a jury trial in the US District Court for the Southern District of California. The jury determined in favor of Taction but found no evidence of willful infringement on Apple’s part.
This case represents one of several intellectual property disputes Apple has faced recently. In November 2025, a separate jury verdict required Apple to pay $634m to medical technology company Masimo over a patent related to blood-oxygen monitoring capabilities.
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