Apple wins $1.24 billion in patent suit against Samsung

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Apple won more than US$1 billion (S$1.24 billion) in a massive victory on Friday over South Korean giant Samsung, in one of the biggest patent cases in decades - a verdict that could have huge market repercussions.

A jury in San Jose, California rejected Samsung's counter-claims against Apple, according to media reports - a big win for the Silicon Valley giant, which had claimed its iconic iPhone and iPad had been illegally copied.

The jury, which had examined infringement claims and counter-claims by Apple and Samsung, ruled the South Korean electronics giant had infringed on a number of patents, the tech websites Cnet and The Verge said in live courtroom blogs.

The verdict affects patents on a range of Samsung products including some of its popular Galaxy smartphones and its Galaxy 10 tablet - devices alleged to have been copied from the iPhone and iPad.