Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Samsung’s mobile chief Shin Jong-Kyun are reported to have met last week in an attempt to hammer out an agreement to end the long-running patent battles between the two firms, but to no avail.
Samsung would not confirm the outcome of the meeting or if it actually took place, according to ZDNet Korea. A U.S. court had ordered the two parties to meet and discuss a settlement in advance of a new trial set to start next month.
The session was scheduled to take place by February 19th, after lawyers from both sides met on January 6th to work out a framework for the session. Counsel for both firms were allowed to attend the meeting. (Which could explain why nothing was settled. – Ed.)
This was not the first meeting between executives of Apple and Samsung, as Cook has previously met with Shin and Samsung Vice Chairman Choi Gee-sung in July of 2012, just ahead of the Apple v. Samsung court case that resulted in Apple being awarded nearly $1 billion for Samsung’s infringement of Apple’s intellectual property.
A new trial is set to kickoff March 31st. The two companies will attempt to settle disputes over newer devices, such as the Apple iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S III.
