Apple hit with $5.7 billion verdict over haptic tech in iPhones and Apple Watches
US jury says Apple owes record $5.7B in haptic technology patent case
A US jury found Apple's Taptic Engine infringed two patents held by San Diego-based Taction, awarding over $5.7 billion—the largest verdict of its kind. Apple denies using Taction's technology, says its engine is fundamentally different, and vows to appeal. The case, filed in 2021, was revived last year after a judge initially ruled no infringement.
Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial.
- droidjj
The patent claims the jury found were infringed:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10659885B2/en?oq=us10659... claims 17 and 19
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10820117B2/en?oq=us10820... claim 16
- dmix
I remember working at an office building and the company on the floor above us won a big patent suit against Microsoft. We didn't see them at the office after that. I assumed they just stopped working and lived off the money.
- smalltorch
Wow, that's a lot of money for a little buzz. I mean what could possibly be such sacred knowledge that a vibration could even be patentable.
You spin a unbalanced thing in a circle and it creates a vibration. Make it less unbalanced and you get a smoother vibration.
- hingler36
I'm interested in reading more information as it comes out, but a lot of the comments claiming it's "just vibrations" are being a bit reductionist. These devices are controlled by complex algorithms, and they take a lot of time and money to create. Why shouldn't this company enjoy the same IP protections that Apple enjoys on their work?
- jjtheblunt
from the article, Taction themselves agreed Apple's tech was different :
"Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial," Apple said in response