Federal Jury Awards $5.7 Billion to Taction Technology in Patent Infringement Case Against Apple

A federal jury in San Diego returned a $5.7 billion verdict against Apple Inc. on Friday, concluding that the technology behind Apple’s Taptic Engine infringes two patents owned by Taction Technology Inc. The jury deliberated over parts of two days before finding that Apple’s iPhones and Apple Watches incorporate patented haptic feedback systems covered by U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117.

The patents at issue relate to tactile transducers—devices that generate vibrations perceptible through touch to enhance user interaction. Taction alleged that Apple’s Taptic Engine, which produces taps, vibrations, and other physical responses, unlawfully uses this patented technology.

While the jury found infringement, it determined that Apple’s actions were not willful, a finding that limits Taction’s ability to seek enhanced damages under federal patent law, which allows tripling damages in cases of egregious infringement.

Apple has publicly disputed both the infringement verdict and the size of the damages award. The company maintains that its Taptic Engine operates on different principles than those covered by Taction’s patents and pointed to testing evidence presented at trial supporting its position. Apple has announced plans to appeal the verdict.

This verdict marks a significant development in a protracted legal dispute that began in 2021 when Taction filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Initially, in 2023, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson granted Apple summary judgment, effectively dismissing Taction’s infringement claims before trial. That ruling was based in part on the exclusion of expert testimony from Taction and the court’s interpretation of the patent claims.

However, in August 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the summary judgment decision. The appellate court found that the district court had abused its discretion by excluding portions of Taction’s expert testimony and had erred in its claim construction. This reversal reinstated the factual disputes over Apple’s technology and sent the case back to the district court for trial.

The jury’s verdict follows this remand and represents a major win for Taction after more than five years of litigation. Taction’s lead attorney, Tigran Guledjian of Quinn Emanuel, described the verdict as a vindication of the company’s patent rights.

Post-trial proceedings are now underway before Judge Robinson, where Apple may challenge the damages award before pursuing its appeal. Any appeal on the patent issues will return to the Federal Circuit, the same court that revived Taction’s claims last year.

The litigation has also revealed that Taction’s legal efforts have been financially supported by outside funders, including Gronostaj Investments LLC and Kenosha Investments LP. Kenosha has been linked in other cases to Burford Capital, a litigation finance firm that provides funding in exchange for financial interests in legal claims.

This case adds to a series of high-profile legal challenges Apple currently faces, including a $2.7 billion lawsuit in the UK accusing the company of unfair app store practices, and a Michigan lawsuit alleging negligence related to AirTag misuse. Meanwhile, other technology companies continue to navigate complex patent and IP disputes in the evolving landscape of hardware and software innovation.

The $5.7 billion verdict underscores the high stakes involved in patent litigation over foundational technologies embedded in consumer electronics, highlighting the ongoing tension between innovation, intellectual property rights, and competitive market dynamics.