Patents

iPhone and Apple Watch with vibration waves illustrating the haptic patent verdict

Apple Ordered to Pay $5.7 Billion in Record Haptic Patent Verdict

A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay $5,721,961,750 to Taction Technology on Friday, ruling that the Taptic Engine in iPhones and Apple Watches infringes two of the small company’s haptic patents. Reuters describes it as the country’s largest such verdict to date. Seven jurors heard the case after a trial that opened September 14. They deliberated two days and returned the verdict Friday afternoon. The Apple $5.7 billion patent verdict lands as one of the biggest patent damage awards in American legal history, period. ...

Apple and Qualcomm logos representing their renewed patent licensing deal

Apple and Qualcomm Renew Patent License Deal as iPhone Modem Split Continues

Apple is breaking up with Qualcomm’s modem chips. It is not breaking up with Qualcomm. Qualcomm announced Thursday that the two companies renewed their global patent licensing agreement, with the new deal taking effect April 1, 2027. That’s the day after the current agreement, signed as part of the landmark 2019 settlement, expires. The announcement was almost comically short. One sentence to state the renewal. One quote to celebrate it. No details on how long the new deal runs or what Apple pays. ...