Samsung owes Apple 539 million dollars after jury rules in US case

South Korean technology firm Samsung must pay Apple 539 million dollars for improperly copying designs essential to the US company's blockbuster iPhone device, jurors ruled in federal court on Thursday.

The ruling related to a portion of a 1.05-billion-dollar fine Samsung had been ordered to pay Apple in 2012 in a California court. The US Supreme Court eventually demanded that 399 million dollars of that fine be reviewed.

But, instead of limiting that amount, as Samsung had hoped, the new jury added 140 million dollars to the sum.

Apple was quoted in US media saying that the decision was a win for patent protections, while Samsung released a statement stressing the importance of creativity and free markets.

The proceedings began in 2011 when Apple accused Samsung of stealing designs fundamental to its iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. The accusations spread to include court cases in multiple countries, though the US case was the last one still running.