Apple has paid 20 million Swiss francs ($20.27 million) to compensate Swiss national rail operator SBB for using its famous clock without permission, a Swiss newspaper has reported.

The company agreed in October to pay the lump sum so it could continue using SBB's Swiss-designed station clock face on its iPads and iPhones, the Tages-Anzeiger daily reported on its website.

The Swiss clock (left) and the Apple dial (right). Credit:AP

The rail operator's spokeswoman, Patricia Claivaz, said in September that SBB was preparing to meet Apple to discuss why the company had begun using the famous clock on one of its new applications for iOS 6 without authorisation.

She said at the time that SBB was more interested in bringing clarity to where and how Apple could use the logo than in making money.