SAN JOSE, May 3 ― A US jury yesterday ordered Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to pay US$119.6 million (RM390.6 million) to Apple Inc, after it found the South Korean smartphone maker had infringed two Apple patents.

During the month-long trial in a San Jose, California, federal court, Apple accused Samsung of violating patents on smartphone features including universal search, while Samsung denied wrongdoing.

Yesterday's verdict marked a big loss for the iPhone maker.

Apple and Samsung have been litigating around the world for three years. Jurors awarded the iPhone maker about US$930 million after a 2012 trial in San Jose, California, but Apple failed to persuade US District Judge Lucy Koh to issue a permanent injunction against the sale of Samsung phones.

The current case involves five Apple patents that were not in the 2012 trial and that cover iPhone features like slide to unlock and search technology. Apple is again seeking to ban sales of several Samsung phones, including the Galaxy S III, and just over US$2 billion in damages.

Samsung also claims that Apple violated two patents on streaming video. It is seeking to ban the iPhone 5, and asserted a US$6 million damages claim.

It will be up to Judge Koh to decide if a sales ban is warranted.

The case in US District Court, Northern District of California is Apple Inc vs Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, 12-630. ― Reuters