Samsung to pay Apple $548m in marathon patent battle

But South Korean firm claims it is entitled to a refund if there are further developments in the case

Samsung is to pay Apple $548m (£362m) as part of a deal to settle a long-running patent dispute between the two tech giants.

The settlement will go some way to ensuring the two firms resolve their dispute, which has been going through US courts since 2011, when Apple claimed that Samsung was using some of its patented technologies without permission.

In a statement filed to a Californian court, Samsung agreed to pay the iPhone maker within 10 days of receiving an invoice.

The $548m is part of an overall $1bn in damages that Apple was granted back in 2012 by a US jury. That amount has since been reduced after an appeal by Samsung to $930m, and is broken down as $548m for technology patents and $382m for packaging materials - both of which Apple asserts that Samsung had copied.

A jury will decide on the exact details of the $382m award next year.

But while it may seem from the outset that the long-running dispute may finally be resolved - at least in part - Samsung has claimed that it has reserved the right to get its money back if there were further developments in the case.

"Samsung continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple and/or payment by Apple of all amounts required to be paid as taxes," Samsung said in the filing.

"Samsung further reserves all rights to reclaim or obtain reimbursement of any judgment amounts paid by Samsung to any entity in the event the partial judgment is reversed, modified, vacated or set aside on appeal or otherwise, including as a result of any proceedings before the USPTO addressing the patents at issue or as a result of any petition for writ of certiorari filed with the Supreme Court," the South Korean firm said.

Apple has hit back, stating that it doesn't believe Samsung has a right to a refund if the patents are later ruled invalid.