Apple is ordered to pay over $5.7 billion for patent infringement

The so-called “Taptic Engine” is behind the vibration alarms on the iPhone and Apple Watch. US jurors found that Apple had infringed patents on the mechanism. It's a lot of money.

The jury calculated that Apple should pay more than $5.7 billion. (Archive image) Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa

San Diego. According to a verdict from a US jury, Apple is to pay a good $5.7 billion for violating two patents. In the process, the company Taction Technology accused the group of using its technology in the so-called “Taptic Engine”, which, for example, triggers the vibration alarms in the iPhone and the Apple Watch computer watch.

The jury saw a total of three points from the two patents violated. They awarded Taction exactly 5,721,961,750 dollars (currently a good five billion euros) for this. Apple announced on US broadcaster CNBC that it disagreed with the decision and would appeal. The group does not use Taction's technology.

It is not uncommon for juries to award large sums in patent trials. However, it also happens again and again that the amounts are sometimes significantly reduced in appeal proceedings. At the same time, the jury found that Apple had not intentionally infringed the patents. Otherwise the amount could have tripled.

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