Apple hit with $5.7 billion in damages over haptic patents

A San Diego federal jury awarded haptics company Taction more than $5.7 billion after finding Apple infringed parts of two vibration-based tactile technology patents. Taction argued Apple’s Taptic Engine in iPhones and Apple Watches used its technology without a proper license.

The verdict underscores how core device features like haptics can carry major patent risk, even for deeply integrated platform technologies. If upheld, the damages could pressure Apple and other hardware makers to scrutinize licensing around tactile feedback systems more aggressively.