A federal jury in San Diego, California, has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion to Action Technology after finding that the company infringed on two patents related to touch and vibration technologies used in some of its devices, including the iPhone and Apple Watch.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Action Technology against Apple in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, accusing the company of using its vibration technologies in its products without obtaining the necessary licenses.
Two Patents at the Heart of the Dispute
The case revolves around two US patents, numbers 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which relate to haptic feedback technologies based on vibration, allowing users to feel the device’s response during interaction.
Taction claims that the Taptic Engine used in iPhones and Apple Watches relies on its patented innovations without obtaining the necessary license.
These haptic feedback technologies are used in devices to provide users with tactile feedback when executing various commands, through subtle vibrations that synchronize with the interaction with the device.
Apple Rejects the Ruling and Prepares to Appeal
Apple has rejected the ruling against it, asserting that it does not use Taction’s technology and that the technology it uses in its products is fundamentally different from the patents in dispute.
In a statement reported by CNBC, Apple said the verdict and the resulting damages were “unsupported by facts,” noting that its Taptik engine is fundamentally different from Action’s technology.
Apple added that Action’s testing of its products during the trial confirmed, according to the company, the differences between the two technologies, and confirmed its intention to appeal the verdict.
A Years-Long Legal Process
The case has been a protracted legal battle. Apple initially had the lawsuit dismissed in 2023, but a federal appeals court reinstated the case, allowing the dispute to proceed to trial.
The jury trial began on September 14, and deliberations continued for two days after the closing arguments. The jury reconvened at 1:15 p.m. local time on Friday to deliver its verdict in favor of Action.
No Intentional Infringement
Despite finding Apple guilty of infringing two patents, the jury concluded that the infringement was not intentional.
Taction expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that it affirms its patent rights, while noting that the dispute took approximately five and a half years to reach trial.
Lance Yang, principal counsel for Taction and a partner at Quinn Emanuel, told CNBC that the company is pleased with the jury’s decision, which was in its favor and affirmed its patent rights.
The ruling represents a significant development in one of the patent disputes Apple is facing regarding hardware technologies, as the company prepares to appeal the verdict in the appropriate courts.
