1 day ago
Apple Hit With $5.7 Billion Verdict Over Haptic Patents
A jury said Apple used technology covered by two Taction Technology patents.
The technology helps phones and watches make vibrations that people can feel.
Apple uses similar vibrations in products such as iPhones and Apple Watches.
Taction sued Apple in 2021.
The legal case took five and a half years to reach trial.
The jury awarded Taction more than $5.7 billion.
Apple disagrees and says its Taptic Engine works differently.
Apple also says it will appeal the decision.
The jury found infringement, but it did not say the infringement was willful.
A federal jury in San Diego found Apple infringed two Taction Technology patents covering vibration-based haptic technology.
The jury awarded Taction more than $5.7 billion after a five-and-a-half-year legal dispute.
The patents concern tactile transducer technology used to create physical feedback in devices such as iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple said the verdict and damages were unsupported, denied using Taction’s technology, and plans to appeal.
The jury found infringement but did not determine that Apple’s conduct was willful.
- Who
- Taction Technology and Apple are the parties in the patent dispute.
- What
- A federal jury found Apple liable for infringing two Taction patents and awarded Taction more than $5.7 billion.
- Where
- The case was heard in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego.
- When
- The verdict was delivered on Friday after a trial that began September 14 and two days of jury deliberation.
- Why
- Taction alleged that Apple’s Taptic Engine used patented vibration-based tactile transducer technology without a licence or authorisation.
Taction Technology’s position
Apple’s position
Patent infringement
Taction Technology’s position
Taction said Apple’s Taptic Engine incorporated technology protected by its two patents without permission, and welcomed the verdict as a vindication of its patent rights.
Apple’s position
Apple said it does not use Taction’s technology and that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s patented inventions.
Damages award
Taction Technology’s position
Taction accepted the jury’s award of more than $5.7 billion after waiting five and a half years for the case to reach trial.
Apple’s position
Apple said the damages were entirely unsupported by the facts and evidence presented at trial.
Next steps
Taction Technology’s position
Taction characterized the ruling as a successful conclusion to its long-running litigation over its patents.
Apple’s position
Apple disputed the verdict and said it plans to appeal.
Key facts
- Damages awarded
- More than $5.7 billion
- Patents at issue
- United States Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117
- Plaintiff
- Taction Technology
- Defendant
- Apple
- Lawsuit filed
- 2021
- Trial duration
- The dispute took five and a half years to reach trial
- Jury finding
- Infringement was found, but not willful infringement
Quotes
Lance Yang
Lead counsel for Taction and partner at Quinn Emanuel
“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’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.”
livemint.com
“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.”
livemint.com
Sources
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