Apple And Samsung CEOs To Talk One Last Time Today To Resolve Patent Dispute

As Apple and Samsung finished their testimonies on Friday, U.S. District court Judge Lucy Koh urged both companies' CEOs to try meeting one last time and settle their issues outside court. Attorneys for both companies had agreed to at least a telephone meeting between the two companies.

Bloomberg now confirms that Apple's CEO Tim Cook and Samsung's CEO Kwon Oh Hyun will talk one last time today to see if they can settle their patent disputes amicably before the jury begins deliberating.

Bloomberg reports:

Samsung Electronics Co.’s chief executive officer will talk with his counterpart at Apple Inc. to see whether they can resolve their smartphone patent dispute before a U.S. jury begins deliberating, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The companies’ lawyers will report to U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in federal court in San Jose, California, on the outcome of today’s telephone discussion between Apple’s Tim Cook and Samsung’s Kwon Oh Hyun, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private.

Tim Cook and Kwon Oh Hyun had met before the trial started, but could not reach an agreement. Apple is suing Samsung for billions of dollars for slavishly copying their products and Samsung is countersuing Apple for infringing on patents and seeking $400 million for core wireless technologies.

There is a lot at stake for both companies. It remains to be seen if they will reach a settlement during today's telephone discussion. We wouldn't bet on it.

[via Bloomberg]