SAMSUNG fought until the bitter end to avoid paying Apple, but the company now says it will finally hand over the more than US$548 million it owes for infringing the patents and designs of its biggest smartphone rival.

    In papers filed in federal court in San Jose, California on Thursday, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. said it will make the payment by Dec. 14 if Apple Inc sends an invoice Friday.

    The payment comes after a U.S. appeals court last May reduced a US$930 million judgment against Samsung by US$382 million, stemming from a 2012 verdict for infringing Apple patents and copying the look of the iPhone.

    Another trial over remaining damages relating to some of Samsung’s infringing products in the case is set to go ahead next spring.(SD-Agencies)