Jury orders Apple to pay Taction more than 5700000000 USD; Apple will appeal

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[Patent company Taction wins lawsuit; Apple ordered to pay 5700000000 USD]

A federal jury in San Diego, United States, ruled on Friday that Apple must pay more than 5700000000 USD in damages for using patented technology owned by haptics patent company Taction Technology. Cailian Press said this was the largest patent damages award in United States history. Taction sued Apple in 2021, alleging that it sold devices infringing its touch technology and improperly exploited related innovations; the case was dismissed in 2023, but was later reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Apple issued a statement strongly opposing the verdict and damages amount, saying that the verdict lacked a factual basis. Apple stated that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, and that testing of Apple products during the trial also confirmed this. It said it did not use Taction's technology and would appeal. Taction's lead counsel, Lance Yang, thanked the jury and said the company had waited years and a half for the case to go to trial. The lawsuit centers on vibration-based haptic sensor technologies that enable users to perceive a device's response to input. Taction alleged that Apple used its inventions without authorization in the Taptic Engines in the Apple Watch and iPhone. Apple's Taptic Engine was introduced with the Apple Watch in 5 and was used in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus the following year, replacing older vibration motors. As Apple insists on appealing, the damages amount cannot be finalized until the trial judge rules on post-trial motions and the case proceeds through the appeals process. 2014

Key points

A federal jury in San Diego, United States, ruled that Apple must pay Taction Technology more than 5700000000 USD in damages.
Taction sued Apple in 2021; the case was dismissed in 2023 but was later reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Apple said it opposes the verdict and damages amount, did not use Taction's technology, and will appeal.
The lawsuit involves vibration-based haptic sensor technologies. Taction alleged that the Taptic Engines in Apple's Apple Watch and iPhone used its inventions without authorization.
The damages amount cannot be finalized until post-trial motions and the appeals process have been completed.

AI-assisted interpretation

The following is analysis, separate from reported facts. Verify important claims independently.

Taction believes that Apple products used its haptic patents and therefore sued Apple. The jury currently supports Taction's claims, but Apple is preparing to appeal, so the damages amount and infringement finding may still change.

Why it matters to readers

If the verdict is upheld, Apple may face substantial legal expenses, while Taction may obtain damages or leverage in subsequent licensing negotiations.

This shows that patent litigation does not usually end with a jury verdict; the judge's post-trial review and an appeal may still change the outcome.

Risks and unknowns

The final damages amount has not yet been determined.
It remains unclear whether Apple has formally filed an appeal and what the outcome of any appeal will be.
It remains unclear whether the case will be resolved through a settlement or a patent licensing arrangement.
The evidence is based on media reports; the original judgment document was not provided in the materials.

Jury orders Apple to pay Taction more than 5700000000 USD; Apple will appeal

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