Apple has been ordered to pay damages to rival Samsung Electronics by a court in the Netherlands.

荷兰一家法院要求苹果向对手三星电子赔偿损失。

The court said that Apple had infringed¹（侵犯） a patent held by Samsung relating to the way phones and tablet PCs connect to the internet.

Apple, which recently became the world's most valuable firm, has been facing various legal issues.

In a separate case, it was fined $2.3m (£1.5m) in Australia for its claims on 4G capabilities² of the iPad.

And it is still not clear how much it may have to pay to Samsung in damages.

The Dutch court did not specify³ any amount, but the damages will be calculated based on sales of Apple's iPhone and iPad in the Netherlands.

"Samsung welcomes the court's ruling, which reaffirmed Apple's free-riding of our technological⁴ innovation," the South Korean manufacturer said in an emailed statement to the BBC.

"In accordance with the ruling, we will seek adequate compensation for the damages Apple and its products have caused."

Samsung had claimed that Apple had infringed four of its patents. However, the Dutch court said that only one of those had been breached⁵.

'Amicable⁶ business solution'

Apple and Samsung are two of the biggest manufacturers of smartphones and tablet PCs in the world.

However, the two firms have been involved in dozens of patent cases and disputes relating to designs of their respective products.

Analysts⁷ said that with so many cases being fought by the two firms in different countries, neither of the parties may emerge as the overall winner.

"Both these companies need to understand that some cases will be won by Samsung and some by Apple," Manoj Menon, Managing Director of the consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan, told the BBC.

"This will put an increased pressure on both parties to figure out an amicable（友好的） business solution, rather than prolong these battles."

Last month, a judge in the US ordered the chief executives of both the firms to meet to try to settle their legal differences.

But the talks did not lead to any agreement and Apple has since sought a ban on sales of one of Samsung's tablet computers and the latest range of its Galaxy⁸ smartphones.