A federal jury in San Diego, United States, ruled that Apple infringed two haptic technology patents belonging to Taction Technology. As a result, damages exceeding US$5.7 billion were set, which is equivalent to almost R$30 billion in direct conversion.
The litigation centers on the Taptic Engine, a component used in devices such as iPhones and Apple Watches to generate vibrations and provide tactile feedback during user interaction with the devices.
Apple expressed its disagreement with the verdict and the compensation amount, confirming its intention to appeal the decision. The jurors also determined that the infringement did not occur intentionally.
Taction initiated the lawsuit against Apple in 2021. The claim was that versions of the Taptic Engine used in iPhones and Apple Watches incorporated technologies protected by U.S. patents numbers 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, without an appropriate license.
The lawsuit documents describe mechanisms designed to create tactile vibrations with greater control over frequencies and resonances. The two patents in question cover technologies that convert electrical signals into movements perceptible by the user, using elements such as magnets and coils to manage unwanted vibrations and control the mechanism's reaction.
In practice, this responsiveness allows a watch or phone to simulate sensations, such as the click of a button, or generate distinct vibration patterns for notifications and commands.
The defendant company argued that the latest versions of the Taptic Engine have structures similar to those detailed in its patents, specifically citing the 2020 iPhone SE as an example of a device containing the questioned components. Despite this, the jury concluded that the two patents were infringed but found that the infringement was not deliberate.
Apple refutes both the finding of infringement and the stipulated value for the compensation. In a statement issued after the trial, the company declared that the Taptic Engine is 'fundamentally different' from Taction's technology and that it does not use the competitor's technology.
This case has gone through other phases. In 2021, Apple had obtained a favorable ruling, but the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals reversed part of that outcome, allowing the case to return to trial. The new trial was scheduled to begin on September 14, 2026.
This lawsuit joins other patent issues involving Apple products. In the United States, the company has already faced a separate dispute with medical equipment manufacturer Masimo, in which it deactivated the oxygen sensor in certain Apple Watches.
As of now, there is no court order preventing the sale of iPhones or Apple Watches. It is important to note that the US$5.7 billion amount may change during the appeal process and other legal stages.