The legal war between Apple and Samsung has been going on for well over a year and a half at this point, and last week it looked as though the battle wouldn't be ending any time soon, as Apple requested a sales ban on over 20 different Samsung phones and tablets. However, it appears as though the two companies are attempting to work out their issues in private while throwing legal punches in public.
An official from the Korean Fair Trade Commission has told The Korea Times that Apple and Samsung "recently resumed working-level discussions toward the signing of a potential deal." It's said that the firms are trying to reach an agreement concerning royalty rates and the values of the patents at the center of their battle. Samsung would reportedly like to ink a cross-licensing deal with Apple while the Cupertino firm wants Samsung to pony up $30 per device for Samsung's patent infringement, which Samsung thinks is too high a price. However, Apple is said to be acting flexible in its talks with Samsung.
It's not clear how long Apple and Samsung have been holding this latest round of settlement talks, but it still sounds as though the two firms are still a ways away from a middle ground. If they're unable to reach an agreement soon, Samsung mobile boss J.K. Shin may end up flying to the U.S. in early 2014 to meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook in an attempt to reach a deal. We'll have to wait and see if either this current round of negotiations or a new meeting between J.K. Shin and Tim Cook will result in an Apple-Samsung agreement. Considering how drawn out this legal battle is getting, let's just hope that one or both companies make a New Year's resolution to be more accommodating of others in 2014.
Via MacRumors, The Korea Times
