Samsung just lost another legal battle versus Apple in the never-ending patent disputes between the two tech giants. The eight-person jury appointed by he U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, on the third day of deliberation, cut the $380 million damage demand by the Cupertino-based Apple and ordered the Seoul-based company to pay $290 million, substantially higher than the $52 million that Samsung was willing to pay.

Despite the reduced amount, Apple got the entire amount of lost profits and royalties on account of the patent violation, and at the same time it had cut Samsung's profit.

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Samsung has indicated it will contest the court's decision.

Samsung said, quoted by MacWorld, "We are disappointed by today's decision, which is based in large part on a patent that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recently deemed invalid," adding it will initiate post-trial motions.

In the event that a higher court still favours Apple, which has a high probability because this case is being tried in the U.S. and courts would likely be more sympathetic to an American company than a Korean one, Samsung could still make the court decision an empty victory.

The Seoul-based company could do what a parody Web site reported on Wednesday that Samsung settled the $1 billion damage awarded by a court to Apple by sending 30 trucks filled with 5-cent coins.

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If the report was true that would have meant that with the jury award of $290 million, Samsung would need about 10 trucks full of 5-cent coins to get even with Apple if it opts to settle the amount that way.

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