In a major victory over Samsung, Apple has won more than USD 1 billion patent suit against its South Korean rival.

According to media reports, the victory is biggest in the past decade may have serious fall out in the market.

Reuters says that a number of companies that sell smartphones based on Google's Android operating system may now face further legal challenges from Apple, a company that is already among the largest and most profitable in business history.

The jury found infringement by Samsung in six of seven patents raised by Apple in the suit. In five cases, the infringement was willful, the jury said. Shares of Apple, already the most highly valued U.S. company, jumped in after-market trading on news of its victory.

“Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer,” Samsung said Friday night after the ruling. “It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices. It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies.”

Apple had no immediate comment.

Apple submitted evidence showing internal Samsung communications in which executives openly fretted about the design advancements of the iPhone. Samsung countered with arguments that consumer product manufacturers routinely adopt one another’s best ideas, and that some iPhone features were pioneered on devices from other manufacturers, including Samsung itself, said Washington Post.