Apple has been ordered to pay approximately KSh739.5 billion ($5.7 billion) after a US jury found that it had used patented haptic technology belonging to audio company Taction Technology without permission.
Taction sued Apple in 2021, accusing the technology giant of infringing two patents covering systems that generate vibrations in electronic devices.
Haptic technology allows users to feel physical feedback when interacting with devices, such as when pressing a button, receiving a notification or performing another action on a smartphone or smartwatch.
Based on an exchange rate of $1 to KSh129.73, the $5.7 billion damages award is equivalent to about KSh739.46 billion.
Apple has denied the allegations and said it plans to appeal the verdict.
“While we thank the jury for their consideration, we strongly disagree with today’s verdict and the damages awarded, which are entirely unsupported by the facts,” the company said.
Apple maintained that its Taptic Engine technology is fundamentally different from Taction’s inventions, adding that testing of its products during the trial supported its position.
The Taptic Engine was first introduced with the Apple Watch in 2014 and has since been incorporated and developed across Apple’s range of devices.
Taction, which manufactures headphones and gaming headsets, alleged that improvements Apple made to its haptic systems infringed patents issued to the company in 2020.
The audio company claimed Apple had used its inventions without a licence and benefited commercially from the technology by incorporating it into its products.
The dispute has previously produced a ruling favourable to Apple, with a San Diego judge finding in 2023 that the company had not infringed Taction’s patents.
The latest jury verdict is therefore likely to face further legal challenges as Apple moves to appeal the decision.
The case highlights the growing importance of haptic technology in consumer electronics, where small motors generate precisely timed vibrations to give users a sense of touch when interacting with digital devices.
