The Wall Street Journal is reporting Apple and Samsung have renewed talks to reach a settlement in their patent infringement case which ended in a $1 billion verdict in Apple’s favor last August.
After refusing to settle out of court last year, Apple has been apparently having closed-door conversations with Samsung officials for some time now. The conversations have included face to face meetings in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung’s home town. The WSJ notes that a settlement was very nearly reached towards the end of February, before things started to cool down.
Samsung is reported to have made an offer to Apple for a broad cross-licensing deal that would settle all the issues between the two companies. However, Apple hasn’t been receptive to similar overtures in the past. Apple did extend a settlement offer to Samsung following its $1 billion victory.
More extensive talks are said to have happened in the December – March timeframe, with face-to-face meetings in January and February. Samsung made an offer to reopen discussions in March, it’s unknown if Apple was receptive to that offer.
Chances are nothing will come from the talks, as the legal battles between the two companies don’t seem to be anywhere near over with. Unless the two firms come to an unexpected agreement, we can most likely expect the proceedings to draw out for many more years.
