Apple Ordered to Pay $5.7 Billion for Infringing Haptics Patent in iPhone, Apple Watch

Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages for infringing on two patents owned by a gaming headset company. Taction Technology, which also supplied the tech found in the Corsair HS60 headset, alleged in 2021 that Apple infringed on two patents related to its haptics systems in its Apple Watch and iPhone.

The headset company’s complaint, which was heard before a jury in the District Court for the Southern District of California, alleged that Apple’s “Taptic Engine” was “capitalizing on Taction’s innovation and success.” Taction alleged that both systems used vibration-based, tactile transducer technology that helps users feel a device respond to their input, and argued that Apple used its inventions “without proper license or authority.” The jury agreed, but also found that Apple didn’t willfully infringe on the patents.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but said it “strongly disagreed” with the verdict and said it will appeal the decision.

“Apple’s Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology, which Taction’s own testing of Apple’s products confirmed during trial. Apple does not use Taction’s technology, and we will appeal,” Apple told CNET.

Apple had originally won a dismissal of the action in 2023, but Taction Technology appealed.

The case follows a successful $634 million lawsuit brought by medical devices company Masimo, which alleged the Cupertino, California-based company used Masimo’s proprietary monitoring technology in the Apple Watch.

Apple, as one of the largest consumer electronics brands in the world, was briefly valued at $5 trillion in July. The company earlier this month replaced CEO Tim Cook with Apple’s former senior vice president John Ternus and unveiled its first folding iPhone.

Senior editor Ty Pendlebury has been reviewing TVs and home entertainment for CNET since 2006. He has a cat named after one of the best TVs ever made.

See full bio