A federal jury in San Diego has ordered Apple to pay $5,721,961,750 in damages to Taction Technology, concluding a high-stakes legal battle over the haptic feedback systems found in iPhones and Apple Watches. The verdict, delivered late Friday, represents one of the largest patent infringement awards in U.S. history.
The dispute centers on Apple’s Taptic Engine technology. The jury found that Apple infringed upon specific claims within two of Taction’s patents: claims 17 and 19 of U.S. Patent No. 10,659,885 and claim 16 of U.S. Patent No. 10,820,117. Taction, a California-based company specializing in haptic vibration technology, originally filed the lawsuit in 2021.
A Verdict Revived from Dismissal
The road to this multi-billion dollar award was not direct. In 2023, a federal judge had initially granted Apple summary judgment, effectively dismissing the case. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the lawsuit in August 2025, allowing it to proceed to the jury trial that concluded this week. According to reporting from AppleInsider, Taction alleged that Apple reverse-engineered its proprietary technology after purchasing two of Taction’s “Kannon” headsets to study their internal components.
While the damages figure is substantial, the jury determined that Apple’s infringement was not willful. Under U.S. patent law, a finding of willful infringement can allow a judge to triple the damages award. Because the jury found the infringement was not intentional, the award is capped at the $5.72 billion figure determined by the jurors, preventing Taction from seeking treble damages.
Apple Plans to Appeal
Apple has officially confirmed its intention to challenge the verdict. In a statement to media, the company expressed strong disagreement with the jury’s decision, maintaining that its Taptic Engine is “fundamentally different” from the technology described in Taction’s patents. Apple is expected to pursue post-trial motions and an appeal to the Federal Circuit to overturn the findings or reduce the damages.
The Taptic Engine has been a core component of Apple’s hardware design for over a decade, providing the tactile “clicks” and vibrations that replace mechanical buttons and provide user feedback across the iPhone and Apple Watch lineups. The outcome of the appeals process could take several years to reach a final resolution, and the verdict is not expected to have any immediate impact on the current availability of Apple products.
