San Diego: A federal jury in the US has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages to Taction Technology after finding that the tech giant infringed two patents related to vibration technology used in iPhones and Apple Watches.

The verdict, delivered on Friday, September 25, follows a patent infringement lawsuit filed by the San Diego-based company in 2021. The jury found that Apple's Taptic Engine, which generates tactile feedback on its devices, infringed two patents held by Taction.

Apple has said it will appeal the verdict, which Reuters described as the largest of its kind in the United States. The jury, however, did not find that Apple's infringement was willful.

What is the Taptic Engine patent dispute about?

The case revolves around two US patents, numbered 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which cover technology used to generate tactile sensations through controlled vibrations.

Taction alleged that Apple used its patented technology in the Taptic Engine without obtaining the necessary licence or authorisation.

The technology allows electronic devices to produce physical responses, such as taps and vibrations, when users interact with them.

In its 2021 complaint, Taction accused Apple of improperly “capitalizing on Taction’s innovation and success” by selling devices that incorporated its patented vibration technology without permission.

Apple initially secured a dismissal of the case in 2023. However, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the lawsuit in 2025, allowing the dispute to proceed to trial.

What is Apple's Taptic Engine?

The Taptic Engine is Apple's haptic feedback technology, designed to produce precise physical sensations in response to user interactions.

Unlike conventional vibration motors, the system uses a linear resonant actuator to generate controlled movements. These can create sensations ranging from taps and vibrations to a simulated heartbeat.

The technology was introduced with the Apple Watch in 2014 and is also used in iPhones, allowing users to receive tactile feedback while interacting with their devices.

Taction alleged that Apple's implementation of the technology incorporated inventions covered by its patents without proper authorisation.