Apple and Samsung Trying to Find 'Common Ground' in Efforts to End Patent War

Apple and Samsung are attempting to find "common ground" in efforts to end their ongoing legal battle, reports The Korea Times (via GforGames). Citing sources "familiar with the negotiations", the paper notes that both firms are "trimming the number of disputed issues", stating that both Apple and Samsung are attempting to become "more practical" about finding a solution.

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Another source also claimed that Apple would like to keep Samsung as one of its main parts suppliers, with the report referencing the long-rumored iWatch:

"As technology shifts toward wearable devices, Apple still wants to keep Samsung as its top-tier parts sourcing channel," another source said.

"The recent release of the Samsung OLED tablet is an indication that Samsung can manage OLED displays to be used in almost all wearable devices, a segment that Apple is greatly interested in."

In the past two years, Apple and Samsung have been in two trials over the issue of patent infringement. The first trial in 2012 awarded Apple more than $1 billion in damages, however a damages retrial last November brought that amount down to $290 million. Meanwhile, the second trial wrapped up last month and found both companies guilty, although Samsung was ordered to pay $119.6 million while Apple was to pay just $158,400. Samsung has since filed an appeal to challenge the second verdict.

Last week, both companies also agreed to drop their cross-appeal rulings on an ITC ban for older Samsung products, which focused on patent 7,789,697, and dealt with the concept of accessories being recognized when they plug in to devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung Electronics CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon also reportedly attending a mediation session earlier this year, however both parties failed to reach an agreement in their ongoing legal battle. While a new agreement would take some time to reach, a move to end the ongoing legal battle would prove to be very beneficial for both Apple and Samsung.

Top Rated Comments

Plutonius Avatar
117 months ago
It will never happen because Samsung will not change the way it operates. As shown in the Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war) article awhile back, Samsung has large ethical issues with most of it's competitors (not just Apple). Samsung copies / steals, litigates, then stalls. It's how Samsung operates and, as much as I would also like to see Apple and Samsung work together, I think it's just Samsung stalling for more time.

Didn't we already have a similar story earlier this year which turned out to be false?
Yes we did.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iansilv Avatar
117 months ago
"OK Apple- here is the common ground-

You don't sue us when we rip off your legitimate patents on innovative technologies and user interface enhancements that you invented and invested money in to.

We will not file unsubstantiated and improper lawsuits against you for using patents integral to standards we have already submitted to be FRAND patents where we have to offer you the same licensing deals we do everyone else because we get the benefit of having our technologies in widespread use as part of a technology standard.

And then we will continue to copy you.

Deal?"

----------

"Oh yeah- forgot one thing- we will stop paying people to post shill comments on Mac forums in support of our blatant copying of your products...

We all good?"
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2IS Avatar
117 months ago
Common Ground = How about you stop copying everything and everyone and come up with something original for once in your existence, Samesung?

yep, the smart watch, multi-tasking, 3rd party keyboards, smaller form factor tablets, larger phones. How dare Samsung steal all those ideas and come to market with them first!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unclevername Avatar
117 months ago
Common Ground = How about you stop copying everything and everyone and come up with something original for once in your existence, Samesung?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
racer1441 Avatar
117 months ago
This is garbage. There can be only one! Highlander this deal, right now!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
117 months ago
Good. Hopefully both companies can work together and hopefully build technologies together.

Yep. As much as I dislike Samsung's ethics, both Samsung and Apple work better together, and Samsung have excellent manufacturing prowess.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)