Taction Seeks Interest and Future Royalties Beyond $5.7B Apple Patent Verdict

Taction Technology is petitioning a federal judge to increase the financial judgment against Apple, seeking additional damages, significant interest, and ongoing royalties. This request builds upon a September jury verdict that awarded Taction $5.7 billion, finding that Apple’s Taptic Engine infringed two of its haptic feedback patents.

According to MacRumors, the plaintiff argues the initial award only covers sales from 2021 through late March 2026. Taction now seeks compensation for roughly six additional months of sales that were excluded from the jury’s original calculation. The company also demands that interest continue to accrue after the court enters a final judgment until Apple makes payment.

Financial and Technical Claims

Taction is requesting that the court apply an annual interest rate of 7 percent to the damages, referencing California law. This adjustment could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the total amount owed. The firm also wants Apple to pay royalties on all devices using the disputed technology until the patents expire on September 24, 2035.

Under Taction’s proposal, Apple would need to report U.S. sales every quarter and remit payments within 30 days of the quarter ending. The company contends that newer products, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12, should be covered because their haptic technology has not changed sufficiently to avoid the patent claims.

Legal Precedent and Defense

To support its position on newer models, Taction points to Apple’s own litigation history against Samsung. In that case, Apple argued that royalties should extend to newer products that retained essentially the same infringing technology. Taction uses this precedent to argue that consistency in legal treatment requires covering Apple’s latest devices.

Apple disputes the verdict and is seeking to have it overturned or to obtain a new trial. The tech giant maintains that its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology. Apple has also challenged the size of the jury’s award, arguing that the evidence did not support the $5.7 billion calculation.

What should you do?

Security and technology professionals should monitor this litigation for insights into intellectual property risk management. While this is a civil matter, it highlights the complexity of supply chain and component patent disputes. Organizations should review their own vendor contracts for indemnification clauses related to patent infringement.

WATCHING THE CASE

• Track court filings for updates on the interest calculation method.
• Note how the court rules on the inclusion of future product generations.
• Observe Apple’s appeal strategy regarding the fundamental difference in technology.

What to do and how to stay safe: Apple

• Review vendor contracts for patent indemnification and liability caps.
• Monitor court documents for changes in the financial judgment structure.
• Assess internal IP strategies for potential overlap with competitor patents.
• Ensure legal teams are updated on haptic feedback technology claims.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

How much did the jury originally award Taction Technology?

The jury awarded Taction Technology $5.7 billion for patent infringement related to Apple's Taptic Engine.

What additional payments is Taction seeking from Apple?

Taction is seeking interest on the award, compensation for six months of sales, and royalties on future sales until 2035.

When do the disputed patents expire?

The patents in question expire on September 24, 2035.