Immersion sues Apple over haptic feedback patent infringement

Immersion Corporation is suing Apple for using haptic feedback in the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch models. Immersion starts proceedings at both the regular court and the trade commission.

According to the indictment, the 6, 6 Plus, 6s and 6s Plus versions of the iPhone and the Apple Watch, Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition use Immersion technologies to generate physical feedback through vibration. It’s about the specific technique used for the vibrations, such as 3D Touch of the 6s and 6s Plus and the Force Touch functionality, which the latest iPhones and Apple watches contain. In addition, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus would infringe Immersion’s patent for shared feedback. In the complaint, Immersion also names AT&T, an American mobile provider, as an infringing party. Probably because this provider sells a lot of iPhones.

The patents that play a role here are 8,619,051, 8,773,356, 8,659,571. These patents focus on technology that can provide feedback to smartphones or other touchscreen devices. Immersion claims that Apple is infringing these patents with its devices, which are able to give different vibrations. The Immersion technique would also form the basis for the method of providing information depending on the pressure the user exerts on the screen.

With the lawsuit in court, Immersion wants to recover the alleged damage from Apple and prevent further infringement of its patents. By means of the complaint to the International Trade Commission, the American international trade commission, the company wants to ensure that the infringing devices can no longer be imported and sold.

Immersion has filed lawsuits in the past for patent infringement. For example, the company found that Sony and Microsoft controllers used its methods to provide haptic feedback. An arrangement was then made with Microsoft; Sony eventually lost its case.