Apple Challenges $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict from Taction Technology
Apple is actively contesting a monumental $5.7 billion judgment in a patent infringement case initiated by Taction Technology. This legal battle centers around Apple’s Taptic Engine, a critical component providing haptic feedback in iPhones and Apple Watches. The tech giant contends that the jury’s verdict was unfounded and is seeking to have it overturned.
‘Impermissible Guesswork on a Massive Scale’
Recently, a jury found Apple liable for infringing two of Taction Technology’s patents, resulting in a substantial damages award. However, Apple asserts that this decision lacks a factual basis, emphasizing that its technology fundamentally differs from Taction’s patented innovations. The company has initiated an appeal process to challenge this outcome.
Apple’s latest legal motion argues that Taction failed to present adequate evidence to justify any damages, let alone a record-setting $5.7 billion. According to Apple, the court previously excluded Taction’s damages expert’s analysis due to methodological flaws, further weakening the plaintiff’s case.
The tech company highlights that Taction did not quantify the value of its patented technology during the trial. Instead, Taction encouraged the jury to determine a reasonable royalty, resulting in what Apple describes as “impermissible guesswork on a massive scale.”
From Apple’s motion: “Taction told the jury it was ‘just looking for a reasonable royalty for its contribution,’ but never offered evidence of what that contribution was worth. Instead, it asked the jury to ‘award a reasonable royalty that y’all think is appropriate.’ Taction failed to meet its burden to present evidence that would allow the jury to ‘adequately tie a dollar amount to the infringing acts.’ Without any such evidence, the jury was left to speculate, contrary to the Court’s instructions and binding Federal Circuit case law.”
Concerns Over Jury’s Intent
Apple also raised concerns regarding the jury’s intent, noting that the judge expressed uncertainty about whether the $5.7 billion figure accurately reflected the jury’s decision. This ambiguity adds another layer of complexity to the case.
Furthermore, Apple questions the validity of Taction’s technical expert, Dr. Oliver, accusing him of using a “rigged” test to substantiate claims of patent infringement. Apple’s defense rests on the assertion that its Taptic Engine operates differently than Taction’s patents describe, producing stronger vibrations at select frequencies rather than a uniform output.
The filing states: “No reasonable juror could find that ‘the output of the transducer is highly damped’ in the accused products, as required by the Court’s construction. Rather than assess highly damped output by using the test in the patent, Taction’s infringement theory rested on a legally erroneous test rigged by Dr. Oliver for this case. The only evidence of the transducer’s actual output, including Taction’s pre-filing and infringement contentions testing, was introduced by Apple and those tests showed a peaked response that Dr. Oliver conceded was not highly damped.”
Potential Patent Invalidity
Apple’s argument also extends to the potential invalidity of Taction’s patents if the plaintiff’s interpretation is accepted. The company claims that the testing method used to demonstrate infringement contradicts the method outlined in the patents, creating uncertainty about the scope of the patent claims.
In light of these arguments, Apple is requesting the court to nullify the jury’s verdict, award no damages to Taction, and affirm that Apple did not infringe on the patents. Alternatively, Apple seeks a new trial to address questions of infringement, patent validity, and damages.
As the legal proceedings continue, the court will evaluate whether to uphold the original verdict, overturn it, or mandate a new trial. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for patent litigation and the tech industry at large.
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