SAN DIEGO — A US federal jury ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology on September 25, 2026. The jury found that Apple infringed two patents owned by Taction Technology related to haptic feedback technology.

Apple stated it intends to appeal the verdict. "While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today's verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts," Apple said in a statement. The company also argued that its hardware differs from the patented technology. "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial," it said.

Lance Yang, an attorney, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. "We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights," Yang said. The lawsuit centered on US Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which relate to vibration-based tactile transducer technology used in devices such as smartphones and wearable gadgets. These patents also cover technology used in gaming headsets and headphones, not just Apple products.

Why It Matters

The $5.7 billion damages award represents one of the largest patent infringement verdicts in recent technology litigation. The case shows ongoing legal challenges facing major technology firms regarding haptic feedback and tactile transducer technologies. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's decision to revive the case after a 2023 dismissal demonstrates the complex procedural path these patent disputes can take. The San Diego federal court continues to serve as a venue for high-stakes intellectual property battles between major corporations.

Taction Technology's success in vindicating its patent rights may influence how companies approach licensing agreements for haptics technology. The company has previously licensed its technology to firms in the gaming and audio industries. The verdict comes as Apple faces multiple patent-related legal challenges, including the separate $634 million judgment to Masimo in November 2025. The outcome may affect future product development and licensing strategies for haptic feedback systems across the technology sector.

Timeline

Apple's Taptic Engine system debuted with the Apple Watch in 2014. Taction Technology filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2021 alleging patent infringement. A San Diego federal judge ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe Taction's patents. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the case after the 2023 dismissal in 2025. In November 2025, a judge ordered Apple to pay $634 million to Masimo for patent infringement regarding blood-oxygen reading technology. John Ternus succeeded Tim Cook as Apple CEO in September 2026. The jury trial took place at the US District Court for the Southern District of California in September 2026. On September 25, 2026, it stated that "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial."

What's New

Additional reporting provides further detail on the verdict and background. A US federal jury ordered Apple to pay $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology for patent infringement on September 25, 2026, according to the official record. Taction Technology, the company that won the $5.7 billion verdict, is based in San Diego and has previously licensed its haptics technology to companies in the gaming and audio industries.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a 2023 ruling that had dismissed Taction's case against Apple, allowing the patent infringement trial to proceed. Taction Technology filed its lawsuit against Apple in 2021, alleging that Apple's Taptic Engine violated two patents related to tactile transducer technology. Taction Technology's patents (Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117) relate to tactile transducer technology used in devices such as gaming headsets and headphones, not just Apple products. Apple's Taptic Engine, while not found to be willfully infringed, has been the subject of multiple patent disputes, including this one with Taction Technology and the earlier case with Masimo. Taction Technology is based in San Diego and has previously used its haptics technology in gaming headsets and headphones. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which revived Taction's case after Apple's 2023 dismissal, has a history of overturning lower court decisions in patent cases, including those involving Apple.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the specific figure for patent infringement damages. The US District Court ruling in Apple v.

Sources also differ on details regarding the federal jury order. The US District Court for the Southern District of California jury verdict states that a US federal jury ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology.

Reports vary on details about Taction Technology. Taction Technology corporate registration states that Taction Technology is based in San Diego.

Sources differ on details regarding patent infringement filings. The Taction Technology complaint filed in US District Court for the Southern District states that Taction Technology filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2021 alleging patent infringement.

Reports vary on details about Taction Technology's patents. The US District Court for the Southern District of California jury verdict states that the jury found that Apple infringed two patents owned by Taction Technology related to haptic feedback technology.

Sources differ on details regarding patent infringement cases. The US District Court ruling in Apple v.