Apple, Samsung Settlement Coming? Judge Orders CEOs Tim Cook, Choi Gee-Sung To Meet

By Dan Levine

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd agreed that their chief executives would participate in settlement talks to try to resolve a patent lawsuit over smartphone and tablet technology, according to a court filing.

Apple sued Samsung in the United States last year, saying the South Korean company's Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets "slavishly" copies the iPhone and iPad. Samsung then countersued Apple.

In a court filing late on Monday, both companies agreed to the settlement conference. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh on Tuesday then referred the companies to a San Francisco-based magistrate judge who will lead the talks.

Representatives for Apple and Samsung could not immediately be reached on Tuesday.

Along with Apple chief executive Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Choi Gee-sung, both companies' general counsels will also participate, according to Koh's order.

The two companies are engaged in a bruising legal battle that includes more than 20 cases in 10 countries as they jostle for the top spot in the smartphone and tablet markets. In the case before Koh, trial is currently scheduled for July.

The case in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California is Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, 11-1846.

(Reporting By Dan Levine; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Gary Hill)

Comments

[jonny dipstick]

10:41 AM on 04/18/2012

They haven't met yet? You would think they would have met and talked by now. What the heck is wrong with these people? Are they just a bunch of cowards?

[ResearchtheFacts]

09:56 AM on 04/18/2012

ibots dubbed by wall st again while they clown you around the next apple products and laugh all the way ti the bank. 84% of apple stock owned by wall st. check out business insider they have a nice chart. lol Next up is hedgefund managers with a 7%. So 91% owned by the financial industry driving up the speculation and ibots to buy the new devices.

The rest "guess who owns apple stock" goes to government, insurance, more banks and low as in last individuals. lol Adds new dimension to laughing all the way to the bank. Look at it this way, every time you use your iphone, mac, ipad or pod some banker gets paid.

[Tim The Enchanter]

09:21 AM on 04/18/2012

Apple wouldn't even have to worry about Samsung, except that it tries to maintain a much higher profit margin than other companies, signs exclusive deals with carriers so that most people can't even get one of their products without switching their phone system and are forced to decide from one or two offerings at very high prices.

When I wanted to use my points towards an iPhone, they said, no, I'd have to pay extra and my points don't count. But then they said I could have a "free" Samsung. Deal. Not quite as slick, but a whole lot less expensive and more disposable/replaceable since I'm hard on phones.

What's next? Apple is going to sue HP for making portable computers with a fold up screen and integrated keyboard? Apple sues Sony for making a portable music player?

[Tim The Enchanter]

09:11 AM on 04/18/2012

"Slavishly competes", you mean.

[stratego]

07:17 AM on 04/18/2012

All this hugging while nimble underpaid and overworked workers do their profit making for them. Now if they would only pay their taxes...

[progreenbychris]

02:42 AM on 04/18/2012

Finally! Dear Judge, thank you for ordering two CEO to meet each for discussing solution. AS customer, we want see those useless Lawsuits will drop over patent infringement because they spent wasteful million dollars on defense for nothing!! End of patent war!!

[NHBill]

04:02 AM on 04/18/2012

In Apple's case it is literally a drop in the bucket.

[jo smith456]

12:39 AM on 04/18/2012

Now that's what I call fruitful approach!!!!

[Ryan Schmidt]

12:28 AM on 04/18/2012

The Samsung phones are very much like the iPhone.. I like them tho.. Especially because the screen is bigger..

[Draekia]

04:07 AM on 04/18/2012

Too big in one case. That phablet thing is retarded as anything but an oversized PDA.

That said, as a PDA (if it was priced low enough) it'd be perfect!

[Ryan Schmidt]

02:03 AM on 04/20/2012

Best advertised product in the history of electronics. The Samsung Galaxy Note sold better on the 1st few days than any phone ever.

[Rick Eriksen]

12:22 AM on 04/18/2012

And you made it to number three free ad the day of the day for Apple...21 a week each and every week you pass of and Apple ads as story as news...its not...no one cares...Apple is s**t and so is anyone that stupports that miseralbe company...pay your taxes and make something that works...

[Spartan Ideal]

01:29 AM on 04/18/2012

Lol, how are these not Samsung ads as well, by that token? This is tech news, don't like it, don't click it.

[NHBill]

04:02 AM on 04/18/2012

But how do you really feel?

[ResearchtheFacts]

11:53 PM on 04/17/2012

The vast majority of Apple's stock is owned by financial advisors -- a whopping 84%


Now you know why they speculate on apple like oil.

[ResearchtheFacts]

11:52 PM on 04/17/2012

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[ResearchtheFacts]

11:45 PM on 04/17/2012

Apple is so dishonest. They threw out the mini ipad rumors to keep the stock from tanking today. So full of it. Business insider threw out a chart today of who owns apple stock. Half the people saying they do on this site is full of it. The percentage of individuals who own Apple is so low it is barely mentionable. ibots are just as bogus as apple.

Samsung is already number one, not much to negotiate with apple on at this point.

[Spartan Ideal]

01:31 AM on 04/18/2012

Did you own a mac that died, or something? I see you post this tripe about Apple all the time.

[Hugh Albert]

10:33 AM on 04/18/2012

Spartan, does this mean you researched the facts?

[NHBill]

04:06 AM on 04/18/2012

I'm guessing you missed out on buying Apple.
Me?
I started buying the day after I bought the first iPad.
If you see something out there that you really like you should always buy the stock.

[ResearchtheFacts]

07:44 AM on 04/18/2012

Bill I like your answer and yes that is the way to go regarding buying stock. But the percentage of individual apple stock owners is so small they are barely non-existent. Business Insider published a nice chart (did the research), and even the government owns a larger percentage of apple stock than individuals.

[Trebot]

11:11 PM on 04/17/2012

We as consumers are not going to be better served by a company that has a monopoly. I personally use an android, but I know that the cool features I like are there because each company has to worry about the other. Competition drives innovation.

[Cael]

09:51 PM on 04/17/2012

Judge should make them kiss, but no tongue. ewww.

[travelfreak]

09:38 PM on 04/17/2012

Might Apple be a little jelly? The Galaxy SIII is gonna slam iPhone - and this is coming from an Apple lover! I'm tired of seeing every.freaking.body with an iPhone. Can't wait for the SIII! ! !

[caryhartline]

11:03 PM on 04/17/2012

I don't see that many people with an iPhone. It's only just surprising because, before a few years ago, Apple products didn't take up much of the market.

[Draekia]

04:11 AM on 04/18/2012

They say that people self segregate wen it comes to smartphones. Which is odd to me, personally I think the phone type is a byproduct of whatever people are truly self segregating by.

[travelfreak]

09:17 PM on 04/18/2012

I live in China. Everyone has an iPhone. It's annoying.