Apple’s “Taptic Engine” system – enabling haptic feedback in its devices – first debuted with the Apple Watch in 2014.Since then, it has improved its underlying system, and with that expanded haptics in its devices.Taction, which makes headphones and gaming headsets, claimed in 2021 that these improvements infringed patents it was issued in 2020.It wrote in its complaint, external that by producing better haptic vibrations in its devices, Apple had been able to improve its overall user experience.As such, the tech giant had been “capitalising on Taction’s innovation and success by selling devices that infringe [its] patents”, Taction said.It also accused Apple of using its inventions “without license or authority”.A San Diego judge ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe upon Taction’s patents.However, an appeal was subsequently taken up by a federal appeal circuit – resulting in a September jury trial at the US District Court for the Southern District of California which found in its favour.In Friday’s verdict, external, jurors did not find that Apple had infringed the patents in question willingly.It marks one of many similar lawsuits the tech giant has defended itself against in recent years.In November 2025 a judge ordered Apple to pay $634m, external to medical tech firm Masimo after a jury found it had infringed a patent for blood-oxygen reading tech used in Apple Watches.
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Apple ordered to pay $5.7bn in haptic tech patent case
