A federal jury in San Diego has awarded Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion after finding that Apple’s Taptic Engine infringes two of the company’s haptics patents — a verdict Reuters describes as the largest of its kind in the United States. Apple says it will appeal.
The jury returned its decision Friday, September 25, in Taction Technology, Inc. v. Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Jurors awarded Taction $5,721,961,750. They found infringement of claims 17 and 19 of U.S. Patent No. 10,659,885 and claim 16 of U.S. Patent No. 10,820,117. They rejected Apple’s argument that those claims are invalid. They did not find the infringement willful, which generally closes the door on treble damages.
The patents cover vibration-based tactile transducer technology meant to let a user feel a device respond to input. Taction, a San Diego firm that uses the technology in headphones and gaming headsets, sued Apple in 2021. It alleged Apple was “capitalizing on Taction’s innovation and success” by selling iPhones and Apple Watches whose Taptic Engine used Taction’s inventions without a license. Taction has also accused Apple of reverse-engineering the tech from two of its Kannon gaming headsets.
Apple won a dismissal in 2023. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the case in 2025. Trial began September 14. Seven jurors deliberated for parts of two days and delivered the verdict at 1:15 p.m. PT Friday.CNBC
Apple: “We do not use Taction’s technology.”
“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 told CNBC. “Apple’s Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology, which Taction’s own testing of Apple’s products confirmed during trial. Apple does not use Taction’s technology, and we will appeal.”
Taction lead counsel Lance Yang of Quinn Emanuel said: “We’re happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights. Taction waited five and a half years for this case to get to trial, so it was a long time coming.”
MacDailyNews Take: A jury verdict is not a final judgment, and no money has changed hands. Coverage of the case has not reported an injunction or product ban. Apple’s next steps are post-trial motions and an appeal. For now, the Taptic Engine stays in iPhones and Apple Watches — and the $5.72 billion figure stays on paper pending post-trial motions and appeal.
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