Seven LCD manufacturers in Asia including Sharp Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. agreed to pay $553 million to settle anti-trust claims for illegally fixing liquid crystal display prices in televisions, notebook computers and monitors.

The settlement is the latest from lawsuits alleging that the panel makers allegedly fixed prices of thin-film liquid crystal display panels, driving up prices for the LCD screens which are used in a variety of consumer products including televisions and computer monitors. In 2006, authorities in Japan, Korea, the European Union and the United States revealed in a probe that LCD panel manufacturers were involved in anti-competitive activity. The companies involved paid more than $890 million in fines.

The latest settlement includes $538.6 million to settle price-fixing claims by direct buyers of the products as well as compensation for governments and other public entities for damages. Eight states, Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York, West Virginia and Wisconsin are involved in the settlement.

"Price-fixing is detrimental to Florida's consumers, governmental agencies, and the economy," Pam Bondi, Florida's attorney general, said in a statement. "I am pleased that we will be able to return funds to those who were harmed by this illegal and deceptive behavior."

The companies will also pay more than $14.7 million to settle civil fine and penalty law claims to New York.

"This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in the statement.

Under the settlement scheme, Samsung will pay $240 million, followed by Sharp which will pay $115.5 million. The other companies in the agreement are Chimei, Chunghwa, Epson, Hannstar and Hitachi.

Litigation will continue against companies that didn't settle including Taiwan-based company AU Optronics Corp, South Korea's LG Display Co. and Toshiba Corp. The suit against those defendants is scheduled to go to trial in November 2012.