Apple hit with record $5.7bn patent verdict
Published: 27 September 2026, 6:30:57
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A US federal jury has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion to San Diego-based Taction Technology after finding that the tech giant infringed two of the company’s patents related to haptic feedback technology.
The jury in California found on Friday that Apple’s Taptic Engine, which produces tapping and vibration effects in devices, infringed Taction’s patents used in iPhones and Apple Watches. The jury, however, did not find the infringement to be willful.
The jury awarded Taction $5,721,961,750, making it one of the largest patent infringement verdicts in US history. The case was filed by Taction in 2021.
A federal judge had ruled in Apple’s favour in 2023, but the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the case last year, allowing the dispute to proceed to trial.
Apple rejected both the infringement finding and the damages award, saying its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology. The company said it would appeal the verdict.
Taction develops haptic technology used in headphones and gaming headsets. The company’s lawsuit alleged that Apple used its patented technology in its devices without permission.
The verdict is not necessarily the final amount Apple will have to pay, as the company can challenge the award through post-trial proceedings and appeal.
