Apple ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages, accused of using another firm’s technology

Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7 billion in damages after a U.S. jury found the company had used another firm’s technology without authorization, according to reports.

Audio company Taction Technology sued Apple in 2021, claiming the tech giant had infringed two patents for haptic systems. The technology enables vibration-based feedback on devices, for example when receiving a notification or pressing a button.

Haptic technology is used in Apple’s devices, including the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Apple has challenged the verdict and said it will appeal. The company said it had not used Taction’s technology and that its “Taptic Engine” system is fundamentally different from the technology at issue in the trial.

Haptics allow users to interact with devices through feedback that simulates the sense of touch. The technology is widely used in smartphones, smartwatches and video game controllers, where tiny motors create vibrations in response to electronic signals.