Haptic feedback developer Immersion has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of patent infringement. The lawsuit cites technologies such as 3D Touch, Force Touch, and the Apple Watch, as well as vibration patterns for ringtones and notifications, claiming multiple Apple devices are using its intellectual property, including all iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s models and all Apple Watch models. Immersion claims these devices infringe on two of its own patents related to tactile feedback, including U.S.
Patent No. 8,619,051, Haptic Feedback System with Stored Effects and U.S. Patent No.
8,773,356, Method and Apparatus for Providing Tactile Sensations. The suit also names AT&T for reasons that are not entirely clear, although in the filing Immersion claims AT&T “encourages and facilities infringing use by others” through its sale of Apple products, and its offering of guides, directions, and other materials. Notably, however, no other mobile carriers are mentioned in the lawsuit.
