Jury awards Taction more than $5.7bn in Apple patent case

A US jury found that Apple infringed two patents held by Taction Technology and awarded the company $5.721.961.750 — more than $5.7 billion and over €5 billion at current exchange rates. Taction had accused Apple of using its technology in the company’s Taptic Engine.

The system provides haptic feedback, including vibration alerts on iPhones and Apple Watches. Jurors found that three claims covered by the two patents had been infringed. Apple disagreed with the verdict, telling CNBC it did not use Taction’s technology and planned to appeal.

The jury did not find the infringement willful. Such a finding could have allowed the damages to be tripled, so the award remained exactly $5.721.961.750 without that possible increase.

Large awards in patent cases are not unusual, but appeals courts often reduce damages substantially. The dispute may now continue at a higher court, and the amount ultimately payable could change after review.