Apple ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages over haptic patent infringement

A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion in damages, marking the largest patent infringement verdict of its type in U.S. history. The jury ruled on September 25, 2026, that Apple's Taptic Engine in iPhones and Apple Watches infringed two of Taction's haptic feedback patents, though it found the infringement was not willful. Apple strongly denies the allegations, asserting its technology is fundamentally different, and plans to appeal.

The jury verdict and damages

• ▪A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay Taction Technology more than $5.7 billion in damages on September 25, 2026, after finding that Apple infringed on two haptics patents
• ▪The $5.7 billion damages award against Apple represents the largest patent infringement verdict of its type in United States history
• ▪The federal jury in San Diego determined that Apple's infringement of Taction Technology's patents was not willful

Apple's defense and appeal plans

• ▪Apple announced that it will appeal the $5.7 billion verdict awarded to Taction Technology, asserting that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction Technology's patented designs
• ▪Apple denied Taction Technology's allegations during the litigation and argued that Taction Technology's haptic patents were invalid

The patented technology in dispute

• ▪Taction Technology's patent infringement lawsuit against Apple centered on U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which cover vibration-based, tactile transducer technology that provides device feedback
• ▪The jury found that Apple's Taptic Engine, which is embedded in Apple Watches and iPhones to create tactile vibrations, infringed on Taction Technology's patented technology

Taction's allegations against Apple

• ▪Taction Technology's complaint alleged that Apple improperly capitalized on Taction's innovation and success by selling devices that infringed on Taction's vibration technology
• ▪Taction Technology accused Apple of reverse-engineering its haptic technology from two Kannon gaming headsets

History of the lawsuit

• ▪The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived Taction Technology's lawsuit in 2025 after a San Diego federal judge had dismissed the lawsuit in 2023
• ▪Taction Technology, which filed its lawsuit against Apple in 2021, primarily utilizes its haptic technology in headphones and gaming headsets

Debatable claims

• ▪The patent system should prioritize protecting small inventors over promoting large-scale tech development
• ▪The $5.7 billion patent damages award against Apple is excessive