US jury awards Apple $290m in Samsung retrial

A US jury awarded Apple Inc about $290m in a damages retrial against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, restoring a large chunk of a landmark verdict the iPhone maker won last year.

After a week-long trial, the jury deliberated for nearly two days before reaching a decision on Thursday in a San Jose, California federal court. Apple had requested $379.8m, while Samsung argued that it should have to pay $52.7m.

Apple and Samsung have been fighting in the courts for over two years. Apple was awarded over $1b last year after it convinced a jury that Samsung copied various iPhone features - like using fingers to pinch and zoom on the screen - along with design touches like the phone's flat, black glass screen.

Earlier this year US District Judge Lucy Koh upheld nearly $640m of that verdict but ordered a retrial on the rest, ruling that the previous jury had made some errors in its calculations. Combined with the retrial verdict of $290.5m on Thursday, Apple has now been awarded $929.8m in the case.

Apple called its marketing chief Phil Schiller to testify during the trial. Samsung did not call any senior executives, a fact hammered on by Apple attorneys during closing argument.

Samsung spokeswoman Lauren Restuccia said the company is disappointed by the verdict, especially because one of the patents in the case has been recently deemed invalid by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Apple is contesting that finding.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said it was grateful to the jury for imposing costs on Samsung, though she said the case has been more about protecting innovation than winning money.