Apple $290 Million Richer, Courtesy of Samsung (and a Federal Jury)

Because Apple Inc. could really use another electronics giant’s spare change, Samsung Electronics Co. will be forking over some $290 million to give the tech empire Steve Jobs built a helping hand.

Not really. As of Thursday, Samsung became obligated to hand over that amount after a U.S. jury ruled in Apple’s favor in a retrial appropriately held in a San Jose, Calif., federal court. Reuters reported the details after the verdict:

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 $379.8 million, while Samsung argued that it should have to pay $52.7 million.

Apple and Samsung have been fighting in the courts for over two years. Apple was awarded over $1 billion 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 U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh upheld nearly $640 million 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 $290.5 million on Thursday, Apple has now been awarded $929.8 million in the case.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson