Apple Faces $5.7 Billion Patent Infringement Verdict Over iPhone And Apple Watch Haptics (cnbc.com)
- Reference: 0185875950
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/09/27/0751219/apple-faces-57-billion-patent-infringement-verdict-over-iphone-and-apple-watch-haptics
- Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/26/apple-taction-technology-patent-infringement-verdict.html
> Taction sued Apple in 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The company alleged that Apple was improperly "capitalizing on Taction's innovation and success" by selling devices that infringed on its vibration technology, according to [2]the complaint . Apple initially won dismissal in 2023, and the Federal Circuit later revived the case....
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> Taction argued that Apple's "Taptic Engine," which is embedded in its Apple Watches and iPhones, uses its inventions without proper license or authority.
Taction's lead counsel told CNBC "Taction waited five and a half years for this case to get to trial, so it was a long time coming."
CNBC also reported that the jury "did not find Apple's infringement willful" — and that Apple said they'd appeal.
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/26/apple-taction-technology-patent-infringement-verdict.html
[2] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.casd.705779/gov.uscourts.casd.705779.1.0.pdf
That's nothing (Score:2)
My cousin, who is a prof at a rather well-known higher education institution in pensylvania, still hasn't filed his patent infringment lawsuit against tech giants, car manufacturers and pretty much everyone else for using his invention without permission for - wait for it - being too ashamed that it would bring undue attention and unwanted public spotlight burden on said higher education institution! The invention is used by pretty much everyone every day, be it at home, in a car or on foot. So apple, pay t
Re: (Score:2)
Considering he filed and obtained the patent, instead of file-and-abandon which secure it in prior art, I find it hard to believe they don't want to pursue commercial interest .. but OK.
I guess you can't tell us which patent because it would be like doxxing him.
Re: (Score:2)
Oh yeah, MY uncle was an MIT prof for decades, that make me smart. It's part of the sideways gene movement of IQ Theory.
Re: sam (Score:2)
Yeah, well my uncle needs to stay 1000 ft away from school and daycare facilities!
haptics history (Score:3)
Taction Technology is a San Diego-based audio technology company that was founded and incorporated around 2014. The Patents Involved in the Apple LawsuitThe high-profile patent infringement lawsuit centers on tactile transducer technology (utilizing dampening systems, magnets, and ferrofluid to handle low-frequency audio and haptic feedback). The foundational patents were created, filed, and issued within the following timeframes: U.S. Patent No. 10,659,885 ("Systems and methods for generating damped electromagnetically actuated planar motion for audio-frequency vibrations"): Filed on October 3, 2019, and officially issued on May 19, 2020.U.S. Patent No. 10,820,117: A closely related continuation patent sharing the same core technical specification, issued later in 2020.*(Note: Taction originally filed the federal lawsuit against Apple in 2021, which recently went to trial resulting in a major jury verdict.)
Now wait, when did Apple add haptics to the Apple Watch?
Apple's First Device with Haptics
Apple Watch (2014): Apple first introduced its proprietary Taction Engine (branded as the Taptic Engine) in the original Apple Watch released in late 2014 to simulate physical taps on the wrist.
iPhone 6s (2015): The technology was brought to the iPhone lineup the following year with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
So Taptics didn't start operating as a company until the time Apple built haptics into the Apple Watch. And they didn't file for a patent until 5 years later. That's sus.
Sony: Released the DualShock controller for the original PlayStation in 1997, which introduced built-in dual eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors to deliver rumble feedback. (Note: While Nintendo introduced the plug-in Rumble Pak accessory earlier in 1997, Sony's DualShock was the first mainstream controller to build native haptic motors directly into the standard hardware).
Microsoft: Included dual rumble motors right from its entry into the console market with the launch of the original Xbox ("The Duke" controller) in 2001.
So haptic technology had been around in popular gaming products for 17 years prior to the Apple Watch and 22 years prior to Taptics filing their patent.
Taptics is a patent troll. They can Fuck Right Off.
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Taction / Taptics typos, sorry. I just got carried away because patent trolls suck.
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Taction probably is a troll, but ever since Apple sued Samsung for round corners design patent infringement, I figure that made Apple a patent troll too, and every patent fight they lose is karma. I'm on Taction's side for that reason alone.
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> Taction probably is a troll, but ever since Apple sued Samsung for round corners design patent infringement, I figure that made Apple a patent troll too, and every patent fight they lose is karma. I'm on Taction's side for that reason alone.
And let the ignorance of the rounded corners patent show.
The rounded corners patent was a design patent. The Taction patent is a utility patent. If you don't know the difference, well, a utility patent is on something the thing does. A design patent is on something it lo
Re: (Score:2)
Just because haptics existed prior to the patent doesn't mean that the method outlined in the patent isn't novel. I'm not a domain expert, and from the contents of your post you obviously aren't either and it wouldn't be the first time that Apple decided to use someone else's technology without paying for it.