Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has been ordered to pay more than $5.7 billion in damages after a federal jury in San Diego found the company infringed on two patents held by haptics firm Taction Technology. The verdict, returned on September 26, 2026, centers on the tactile feedback technology used in Apple’s devices.
The case, filed by Taction in 2021, accused Apple of selling products that utilized the firm’s vibration-related inventions without permission. Taction argued that Apple’s Taptic Engine, which provides tactile feedback in iPhones and Apple Watches, relied on its patented work.
Trial proceedings began on September 14, 2026, and the jury deliberated for two days before reaching a decision. The panel found that Apple’s infringement was not willful. Taction’s lead lawyer, Lance Yang, described the outcome as a vindication of the company’s patent rights, noting that the legal battle had spanned five and a half years.
Apple has stated its intention to challenge the ruling. The company released a statement disputing both the finding of infringement and the size of the damages, characterizing the award as unsupported by the facts.
According to a Reuters report, the verdict is one of the largest patent damages awards against a technology company and the largest U.S. patent verdict to date.
