San Jose, Calif. – As we previously reported, Apple Corp (NASD:AAPL) filed patent claims against Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd in federal court in April, alleging the company’s Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers infringe on its iPhone and iPad and seeking an injunction against distribution of Galaxy products, in addition to unspecified damages, and a finding that Samsung “willfully” infringed its patents, which can bring heftier penalties.
Last week, Apple upped the stakes by amending its complaint to allege that Samsung has been copying Apple designs since the early days of the iPhone starting around 2007 and asserting additional patents against Samsung.
According to Reuters, on Friday a lawyer for Apple disclosed in a federal court hearing on the matter that executives “at the highest levels” of Apple and Samsung are in talks about the patent litigation between the two companies.
Reuters cited U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, who suggested the companies who share a close business relationship try to resolve the case through alternative dispute resolution, as saying, “Can’t we all just get along here?”, to which Apple attorney Harold McElhinny responded that executives “at the highest levels” of the two companies are “meeting and talking” about the matter.
According to FierceWireless, when asked about the discussions, a Samsung spokesman Kim Titus told FierceWireless, “We are unaware of any meetings or discussions between the two sides over this matter.”
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(Reuters)
http://tinyurl.com/3hmjah6
(FierceWireless)
