Taction Technology has been successful in its claim against tech giant, Apple, in the US following a jury decision finding it guilty of patent infringement and ordering it to pay 5.7 billion USD in damages.
The claim was first brought in 2021, with Taction claiming that Apple infringed two patents which they own which protect ‘haptic systems’, the technology that enables a device to vibrate when you get a notification or press a button. Apple has used the term ‘Taptic Technology’ for such tech used in its smart phones and watches since 2015.
Apple argued that its ‘Taptic Engine’ is fundamentally different to Taction’s technology, stating that its own testing of the devices during the trial supported that. However, Taptic allege that Apple used its patented technology to improve the user experience of their devices, and as a result had capitalised of its innovation, without any licence or authority to do so.
In 2023, a San Diego judge initially rejected the claim, ruling that Apple had not committed the infringements. However, this was appealed in the Federal Appeal Circuit which resulted in the present jury trial, which took place at the US District Court for the Southern District of California, which ultimately sided with Taction Technology. However, the jury found that the infringements had not taken place willingly. Apple has expressed its intention to appeal the decision.
If you have any questions on the above, or if you need any advice or support in respect of your own Intellectual Property, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com.
