A federal jury ruled on Friday, September 25, 2026, that Apple owes San Diego-based Taction more than $5.7 billion for patent infringement. The jury found that Apple’s Taptic Engine, which provides vibration feedback in iPhones and Apple Watches, infringed on two of Taction’s patents. Apple announced it will appeal the decision, which represents the largest such patent verdict in the country to date.
Taction, a company that produces technology for gaming headsets and headphones, originally filed the lawsuit in 2021. The legal process saw a shift in 2023 when a San Diego federal judge initially ruled that Apple did not infringe the patents. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the case last year, leading to the jury trial.
During the trial, Taction’s attorney, Lance Yang, argued that Apple used the company's patented technology to power the haptic feedback systems in its mobile devices and wearables. Apple denied the allegations, maintaining that its Taptic Engine is "fundamentally different" from Taction's technology. The tech giant also asserted that Taction's own testing during the trial confirmed these differences and argued that the patents in question were invalid.
Apple has confirmed it will appeal the jury's decision. This process will likely move back to the U.S. appellate system, where the company will seek to overturn the $5.7 billion award and the finding of infringement.