The saga reached its climax in August when Judge Robinson sided with Apple. He discarded what he deemed “improper” testimony from Taction’s expert witness, Iowa State University mechanical engineering professor James Oliver. Oliver’s opinions, the judge held, constituted a “new theory of infringement” that Taction had not previously presented. Without this testimony, Taction’s case crumbled.
Apple Loses Bid For $5M : The Origins of the Legal Battle
The legal battle had its origins in 2021 when Taction filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of infringing on two patents related to haptics, the technology that enables electronic devices to provide tactile feedback. This feedback might be experienced, for instance, as vibrations when a call or message is received.
Taction claimed its founder, James Biggs, had pioneered technology to reduce unwanted vibrations in headphones, thus enhancing haptic feedback. The company alleged that Apple’s haptic feature, known as Taptic Engine, infringed on their patents.
