Apple has been ordered to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages after a federal jury found that the company infringed patents related to vibration technology used in its devices.
The lawsuit was filed by Taction Technology in 2021 and centers on Apple’s Taptic Engine, the system responsible for haptic feedback in products including iPhones and Apple Watches.
Taction argued that Apple used its patented tactile transducer technology without authorization. After a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, a seven-person jury deliberated for two days before ruling in Taction’s favor.
The jury awarded the company more than $5.7 billion, although it determined that Apple’s infringement was not willful.
Apple strongly disputes the verdict, arguing that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology. The company has confirmed that it plans to appeal both the infringement finding and the multibillion-dollar damages award.
The legal battle may therefore continue, with the final amount Apple ultimately has to pay still subject to further court proceedings.