A federal jury in the Southern District of California has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion for infringing two patents owned by San Diego‑based Taction Technology. The patents cover the haptic feedback system that delivers the vibrations users feel when receiving a notification or pressing a button on an iPhone.
The verdict follows a legal battle that began in 2021 when Taction first sued Apple. In 2023 a judge ruled that Apple had not infringed the patents, but an appeals court revived the case in 2025. The jury found that Apple did not willfully infringe the patents, but that it had capitalised on Taction’s innovation without a license.
Taction attorney Lance Yang said the jury’s decision vindicated the company’s patent rights. Apple plans to appeal the ruling and has said its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology, a claim it tested during trial.
The judgment comes amid a leadership transition at Apple, with John Ternus taking over as CEO from Tim Cook in September. Apple shares slipped about two percent on Monday as the verdict entered the market.
