A US jury has recently ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $539 million to Apple for copying patented smartphone features, according to court documents, Reuters reported.
The decision is the latest step in a long-running legal battle between the world’s top smartphone makers.
The world’s top smartphone rivals have been in court over patents since 2011, when Apple filed a lawsuit alleging Samsung’s smartphones and tablets “slavishly” copied its products.
Samsung was found liable in a 2012 trial, but a disagreement over the amount to be paid led to the current retrial over damages where arguments ended on May 18.
The South Korean smartphone-maker had already previously paid Apple $399 million to compensate the iPhone-maker for infringement of some of the patents at issue in the case. The jury has been deliberating the case since last week.
If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Samsung will be required to make an additional payment to Apple of nearly $140 million, the Reuters report said.
In a statement, Apple said it was pleased that the members of the jury “agree that Samsung should pay for copying our products.”
“We believe deeply in the value of design,” Apple said in its statement. “This case has always been about more than money.”
Samsung did not immediately say whether it planned to appeal the verdict but said it was retaining “all options” to contest it.
“Today’s decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favor of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages,” Samsung said in a statement. “We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity and fair competition for all companies and consumers.”
