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Court rules Apple must pay record $5.7 billion for tactile technology patent infringement
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UzDaily
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Court rules Apple must pay record $5.7 billion for tactile technology patent infringement

A jury in the United States ruled that Apple must pay a record sum of $5.7 billion after establishing that it infringed on patents belonging to the audio company Taction Technology, which relate to haptic feedback technology. However, the jury did not conclude that Apple intentionally infringed the patents.

Taction Technology filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2021, claiming that Apple violated two patents owned by Taction related to haptic feedback systems. This technology allows devices to convey physical sensations to users through vibrations and is used, in particular, in smartphones and smartwatches.

Taction asserted that Apple used its inventions without obtaining a license or permission, and that improvements to vibration technology in Apple's products enhanced user interaction with the company's products.

Apple disagreed with the jury's decision and announced plans to appeal the verdict. The company emphasized that its Taptic Engine system is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, and that tests conducted by Taction during the proceedings confirm this.

The Taptic Engine system first appeared in the Apple Watch in 2014. Since then, Apple has continued to develop this technology and expand the capabilities of haptic feedback in its devices. Taction reported that the patents granted to the company in 2020 cover technologies that Apple used in its devices after their further development.

In 2023, a judge in San Diego ruled that Apple had not infringed Taction's patents. After an appeal of this decision, the case was sent for a new trial. In September, a jury trial took place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, which ruled in favor of Taction.

Haptic feedback has become a widespread technology in modern electronics. Small vibration motors in smartphones, watches, and game controllers respond to specific electronic signals, allowing users to receive physical confirmation of their actions.

The Taction case became one of several major patent disputes in which Apple defended its technologies. Furthermore, in November 2025, the court ordered the company to pay the medical technology enterprise Masimo $634 million in a case concerning the infringement of a patent related to blood oxygen level measurement technology.

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Apple may compensate consumers up to R$ 491 per iPhone due to AI feature delays
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olhardigital.com.br

Apple may compensate consumers up to R$ 491 per iPhone due to AI feature delays

Apple may offer compensation of up to US$ 95 (equivalent to about R$ 491) to consumers in the United States. This offer is part of a total agreement of US$ 250 million (approximately R$ 1.29 billion) regarding the postponement of artificial intelligence features that the company had announced in 2024.

The compensation is directed at buyers of specific iPhone models acquired between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. The initial estimated value per device is US$ 25 (about R$ 129), but this amount may increase to US$ 95 if there is a low number of valid claims. The deadline to claim this compensation is December 21, 2026.

The class action lawsuit argued that customers purchased certain iPhone models expecting the artificial intelligence features to be available sooner. Due to successive delays in the launch, Apple accepted the US$ 250 million settlement to finalize the litigation, without admitting any fault.

The estimated individual payment is US$ 25 per eligible unit. It is important to note that a portion of the total settlement amount will be allocated to cover administrative expenses, taxes, and legal fees.

Consumers who meet the criteria must visit the designated website for the agreement and submit their request. This procedure requires personal information, the iPhone's serial number, and a valid payment method. Accepted payment methods include PayPal, Venmo, ACH transfer, or check. For business entities, commercial data must be provided, and a form containing the device's serial number, the associated Apple account identifier, and the device's phone number must be completed. The serial number can be found on the iPhone itself by accessing Settings > General > About.

Originally, during the WWDC 2024 conference, Apple had promised to launch Apple Intelligence that same year. However, the project was postponed to 2025 and underwent further extensions. Some functionalities were made available in the second half of 2025, but the full promise was only fulfilled with the release of iOS 27 in the second half of 2026.

The lawsuit was based on the claim that consumers made purchases relying on Apple's promise. Although the company did not admit liability, it agreed to pay US$ 250 million to end the legal process. Eligible consumers who are entitled to compensation must formalize their request within the established deadline, as participation in the agreement will no longer be possible after December 21, 2026.

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