Apple has been ordered to pay USD 5.7 billion (around Rs 5,46,70,00,00,000) in damages after a US jury found that the company had infringed patents related to haptic technology. The technology is responsible for the vibrations users feel while receiving messages, pressing buttons or interacting with devices.
What Is The Dispute?
The case was filed by audio company Taction Technology in 2021. The company had accused Apple of using its patented haptic technology without permission. The patents relate to systems that create vibrations, which are now commonly found in smartphones, smartwatches and gaming controllers.
According to a BBC report, Taction said Apple’s improvements to haptic feedback had helped enhance the user experience of its products. However, it alleged that Apple was using its inventions without a licence. Notably, Apple uses its own haptic system, known as the Taptic Engine. The technology first appeared in the Apple Watch in 2014 and has since been improved and expanded across Apple's devices, including the iPhone and Apple Watch.
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Apple, however, denied using Taction's technology and maintained that its system was different. "While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today's verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts," the company said. It added, “ Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial.”
How Did The Case Reach Jury?
In 2023, a San Diego judge had ruled that Apple did not infringe Taction's patents. The matter was later taken up by a federal appeals court, leading to a jury trial at the US District Court for the Southern District of California. The jury ultimately found Apple liable for infringement and awarded USD 5.7 billion in damages. However, jurors did not find that Apple had knowingly or willingly infringed the patents.
Haptic Technology
Haptics create a sense of touch through controlled vibrations. From the vibration of an incoming message to feedback when pressing a button, this technology has become an important part of how people interact with modern electronic devices.
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