Got a tip for us?Let us know

a. Send us an email
b. Anonymous form

Apple and Immersion Reach Licensing Agreement After Legal Battle Over 3D Touch and Taptic Engine

Monday January 29, 2018 4:54 AM PST by Joe Rossignol

Immersion, a company that develops and licenses haptic feedback technologies, today announced it has reached a settlement and licensing agreement with Apple. The terms of the deal are confidential.

Immersion describes itself as the leading innovator of haptic feedback systems, with more than 2,600 issued or pending patents. The company, headquartered in San Jose, California, says its technology has been adopted in more than three billion consumer electronic devices across several industries.

Immersion had filed a pair of lawsuits against Apple in early 2016, accusing the company of infringing on its patents with its haptic feedback technologies such as 3D Touch and the Taptic Engine on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and Force Touch on the first-generation Apple Watch and various MacBook trackpads.

Tags: 3D Touch, Force Touch, Immersion, Taptic Engine

Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher

103 months ago

Where are all the people who thought Immersion were patent trolls and/or had no case?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/haptic-feedback-company-immersion-files-patent-infringement-lawsuit-against-apple.1955890/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/immersion-files-second-haptic-feedback-lawsuit-against-apple.1971289/

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

maflynn

103 months ago

Looks like Immersion hit the jackpot :eek:

I also wonder if apple will stop or diminish its use of Force touch now

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Gashole

103 months ago

Haha! You're probably right. I just find it backwards that they push for 3D Touch since its inception, include it in every phone since the 6s, and then pull it from the mainstream iPhone version. From a developer perspective, they're limiting their user base and there is less incentive to develop for 3D Touch.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by Joe Rossignol

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...

• 66 comments

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by Joe Rossignol

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...

• 98 comments

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...

• 180 comments

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by Hartley Charlton

Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...

• 77 comments

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by Juli Clover

2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...

• 101 comments