Apple loses $5.7bn vibration tech patent suit to Taction

Apple has been ordered to pay $5.7bn to Taction Technology, an audio firm, after losing a patent suit over the technology that powers device vibrations. The verdict, reported by the BBC, is a staggering sum for a company that rarely loses patent cases of this magnitude. The award stems from claims that Apple infringed Taction's patents for haptic feedback technology, the subtle vibrations that let users feel a tap, a notification, or a virtual button press on their devices.

Taction Technology, a relatively small company compared to Apple, argued that Apple's use of its patented vibration tech was unauthorized. The jury agreed, and the $5.7bn judgment now stands as one of the largest patent damages awards in recent memory. For Apple, the decision is a financial and legal blow, though the company has not yet indicated whether it will appeal.