Apple's $5.7 billion patent bill could grow. Taction Technology has asked a federal judge for additional damages, interest and royalties on future iPhone and Apple Watch sales.
The request follows a September jury verdict that Apple's Taptic Engine, the component behind the taps and vibrations in its devices, infringed two Taction haptic-feedback patents. Apple disputes the verdict and is asking the court to overturn it or order a new trial. It argues the evidence did not support the $5.7 billion calculation and has said it will appeal.
According to Reuters reporting on Taction's filing, the award covers sales from 2021 through late March 2026. Taction wants compensation for roughly six more months of sales the jury did not calculate. It also wants interest at 7% a year, citing California law, which Reuters reported could add hundreds of millions of dollars. For scale, one year of 7% on $5.7 billion is about $399 million, though the filing's interest period was not specified. Taction also wants interest to keep accruing after final judgment until Apple pays.
The larger ask is forward-looking. Taction wants royalties on devices using the technology until the patents expire on September 24, 2035. Apple would report U.S. sales each quarter and pay within 30 days of quarter-end. Taction says the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12 should be covered because their relevant technology has not changed enough to escape the patents.
To back that up, Taction points to Apple's earlier case against Samsung, where Apple argued that royalties should reach newer products with essentially the same infringing technology. Using a litigant's own argument against it is a familiar tactic. Whether this judge finds it persuasive, and whether any of it survives Apple's challenge to the verdict, is still undecided.