US judge sends Apple and Samsung to make peace and settle

A court filing states that the respective heads of technology giants, Samsung and Apple, will try to come to terms and make a settlement over the patents that are being disputed in their smartphone and tablet technology. The lawsuit saga between Apple and Samsung has been playing out since last year, when Apple sued Samsung for ‘slavishly’ copying the iPhone and the iPad in their Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets. Samsung later countersued Apple. However, on Monday, both companies agreed to a settlement conference. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh recommended them to a San Francisco based magistrate who will lead the talks. The people involved in the talks will be Apple’s Chief Executive, Tim Cook, Samsung’ s CEO, Choi Gee-sung as well as both companies’ general counsels according to Koh’s order.

Will they make peace?

A quick background on the spat. Apple and Samsung are in a legal brawl that spans over 20 cases in 10 countries. Both companies, of course, are fighting to claim the top spot in the tablet and smartphone markets. The trial for the case before Koh will take place in July. About two weeks ago, an appeals court in the US toyed with the idea of of implementing a sales ban on Samsung smartphones and tablets. This ban would have been placed following a request from Apple. The favouring for Apple came from a statement made by Apple lawyer, Michael Jacobs, had the courts rethinking the decision to deny the ban. Jacobs said, “Apple does not need to show a causal link between patent infringement and a loss of customers.” This lead the courts to believe that Samsung, “likely infringed on Apple patents used in products such as the iPhone, and that Apple is likely to be hurt.” 

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Apple had been hoping for an immediate injunction because even if they won at that trial, a verdict could still not be expected by the end of this year. The next hearing of the trial, as mentioned earlier, will take place in July. To catch up on the Samsung Apple saga, click here. Do you think the two companies will be able to reach a resolution? Let us know in the comments section below.