Apple and Samsung attempting to reconcile patent dispute

By on Jun 20, 2011 at 5:45 PM
Legal June 20, 2011

Executives at Apple and Samsung are attempting to reconcile their differences and settle the numerous patent disputes each company has filed recently, FierceWireless reports. Despite their partnership, the two companies are locked in an ongoing battle over patents that has drawn tremendous media attention. Apple claims that various recent Samsung products such as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Nexus S are copycat devices that make obvious use of Apple IP without license to do so. Samsung responded by filing a series of suits against Apple claiming that the Cupertino-based firm is infringing on 10 of its patents covering mobile devices. Harold McElhinny, Apple’s attorney, confirmed to the judge presiding over the case that executives from each of the two companies “are in fact meeting and talking.” Samsung did not confirm McElhinny’s statement. Apple is Samsung’s top display panel customer and several analysts have speculated that an ongoing legal dispute could cause tension between the two tech giants.

[Via The Loop]

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  • Anonymous

    Im guessing Samsung saying show me your products started the talks.  Apple lives and thrives on speculation and secrecy. Samsung had nothing to lose but if Apple had to show their future products that would be a bigger hit to them.

    • Anonymous

      Doubtful. Samsung asking to see Apple’s unannounced tech was a longshot and I don’t doubt both sides know it.

    • Prof. Peabody

      There was never even the slightest possibility that Apple would have had to show unannounced products to Samsung.  

      • Anonymous

        well remember even if samsung showed them there products apple would have to show their product to the courts. I dont think a judge will take apples word that future samsung products do or do not look like  apple products. You have to be fair to both. 

      • Zac Caslin

        Everything apple saw was released and show to the public.  Samsung wanted to see products that don’t exists yet. Get it NOW.

      • http://profiles.google.com/jamespakele James Pakele

        Depending on the court and judge, there is always more than the slightest possibility that anything can happen…

    • http://twitter.com/jj_hh1 J Hamburg

      Publicity stunt of Samsung. Nicely played but only noteworthy for the public, not for the lawyers.
      They better start investing money and brain in innovating instead of copying – before that I consider Samsung as copytrash.

      • http://twitter.com/jj_hh1 J Hamburg

        And btw – I’m not talking about Android here. That is Google and not Samsung. I’m talking about hardware-design and touchwiz! And anybody who denies the obvious plagiarism in these areas is either working for Samsung or just wants to justify his 100$ bargain in buying a Galacopy :)

      • Anonymous

        the two most important iPhone pieces (screen and processor) are made by Samsung.. Just so you know

  • Anonymous

    I realize this is unrelated, but would it be possible to someone post that wallpaper?

  • http://twitter.com/vader317 Richard Sun

    So i guess we will be seeing a “Samsung iPhone” soon? hahah

    • http://twitter.com/jj_hh1 J Hamburg

      Galaxy S – designed in cupertino – assembled in korea

      • Austineck

        oppossed to – iPhone 4 – designed in cupertine – assembled in china?

      • Austineck

        *cupertino
        my bad

  • Anonymous

    I think the fact that Samsung is making the best screens in the business (right now) has a lot to do with why Apple is willing to talk.

    Drag this out long ago, and I could see all sorts of mysterious technical issues and shipping problems when it comes to getting screens to Apple. That’d be the kind of negative press that no company needs.

    • Anonymous

      Negative press goes both ways. It wouldn’t do samsung any wonders if rumors started flying that they were purposely sabotaging their customers orders.

      • Anonymous

        Yeah, but bashing Sammy in the press won’t get you the attention that kicking Apple will. See: Antennagate.

      • Anonymous

        That’s only from the consumer side. From the business side of things, it could very well cause other companies to take their millions elsewhere. Such things wouldn’t receive as much press, but they would wound just as deep.

      • Anonymous

        @RickG13 There is no where else to go… Retina and Super Amoled Plus are the best and the chips in the iPad 2 and GS II are as well

    • Prof. Peabody

      Apple is actually getting the screens for most of their products from LG and is going in with them on a plant for the iPad 3 screens.  

      • http://profiles.google.com/jamespakele James Pakele

        Which will last until Apple wants to sue LG…

      • Anonymous

        LG does produce IPS panels, but no AMOLED or PLS panels. As a result iDevices are falling farther and farther behind Samsung Galaxy line in quality of displays.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

        Are you serious?  AMOLED is not the end all be all of displays.  How are “iDevice falling farther behind”?  The display on the iPhone 4 is still better than any Android device.  Android devices come out all year long so it’s easy to improve upon a product that’s months old.  Seriously, do any of you guys think?

  • http://www.droiddoes.com/ iNorm

    Samsung should just concede and call their products what they really are. Apple knockoffs.

    • Anonymous

      so i guess all other cars are Ford knockoffs.

      • Jouten

        Amen to that! /nod in agreement

      • Prof. Peabody

        This does not follow at all, from the previous statement.  Apples and Oranges.

      • bigbudha

        ford was not the first car.

      • Bigbudha

        ford was not the first car.

      • Anonymous

        Ford was not the first car.
        it was the first Mass Produced car.
        Not the same thing.
        Just like saying that Apple had the ipad 2 built before the xoom was out.

    • Anonymous

      The new version of Touch Wiz does not have that ugly colored square around the icons which is the only part of the UI that looked like iOS. I used a Vibrant for a couple months and I did not see anything else that resebled the iPhone. Can you tell what else looks like iOS iKirf?

      • Drew

        I have yet to receive even a bullshit answer concerning your question, let alone a satisfactory one. Every time I’m in debate with someone who claims that the Android UI is a copy of iOS, I never get a response. Take the grid of icons away and how is it the same..?? There are no widgets or live wallpaper on iOS. There’s no speech recognition. You take away the “apps” on iOS and it’s rendered useless. There’s no long-press. How is it the same?? Up until now, did iOS even have a notification system?? It’s just nonsense…

      • http://www.droiddoes.com/ iNorm

        Widgets? Lol live wallpapers? Lol…ok great argument

      • Drew

        @Norm_4G_LTE:disqus Like I said… no one has given me an answer yet. Hem and haw and regurgitate some sales figures but no one has answered the question…

      • Anonymous

        @Norm_4G_LTE:disqus  Those are the main parts of the UX correct? Or is it the transitions, notifications, and menus?? You’re laughing at his answer but any rebuttal would be more laughable

    • http://profiles.google.com/jamespakele James Pakele

      Sure… when Apple concedes and calls iOS 5 what it really is and everybody knock off…

      WWDC announcement summary:

      We copied Android…
      We copied Android…
      We copied Android…
      We copied WP7…
      We copied WP7…
      We copied Amazon…

      Thank you and goodnight!

      • Anonymous

        Hey, they copied RIM too! (iMessages/BBM)

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

         And all those companies copied Apple first because before iOS all they had was crap or nothing existent. 

  • Smoogle

    they must have kissed and made up..

  • Jouten

    Samsung pulled Apple’s punk card because they know that Samsung’s design was around way before any iPod Touch or iPhone.  Serioiusly, check out some of Samsung’s ‘Feature Phones’.  They were around way before any iPod Touch or iPhone.

    Apple realizes this now and want to bury the hatchet before they get served their ‘just desserts’ in court.

    • Zac Caslin

      Yeah OK

    • Drew

      I agree… You can look at it from both sides but if you’re expanding the list of devices that are part of your lawsuit, you’re not gonna turn around the next and fold like a tent and attempt to reconcile. Why would you back down..?? Unless you have more to lose… or that your case didn’t have any merit to begin with. Seriously, the Nexus S?? How is this device on the list??

  • Prof. Peabody

    I think that this will be a tough conversation.  I honestly believe that Samsung really just doesn’t understand what they are doing wrong, or what their responsibility is here.

    All they have to do is come up with their own “design language” and actively try to *not* copy the Apple designs, but I am pretty certain that they don’t have a clue.  

    Their whole concept of “design” seems to hinge on looking at what their neighbours are doing and trying to do the same thing or slightly better, when in fact the practice of industrial design is pretty much the *opposite* of that.

    • Anonymous

       Other than a few background images I don’t see very much similarity..

    • http://profiles.google.com/jamespakele James Pakele

      I honestly believe that Apple is grasping at straws, and with their announcements that they copied ummm… everybody to come up with their iOS5 at WWDC, following their iPad2 “we made thinner and lighter and put a camera on it” release… thus proving innovation is becoming a scarcity in their camp, it is apparent on why they have targeted Samsung now, instead of when the Galaxy line was first introduced.  If you can’t innovate, litigate…

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

        Yeah when they create iOS there was nothing comparable.  Do you think a little of Android’s inspiration might have come from iOS?  No all but just a little?  Seriously, some of you guys are just plain hypocrites.  Who had an app store for smartphones, Apple or Google?  Who had a bookstore first?  Who has swipe to unlock?  Think a little more before you think about who copies who.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

        Yeah when they create iOS there was nothing comparable.  Do you think a little of Android’s inspiration might have come from iOS?  No all but just a little?  Seriously, some of you guys are just plain hypocrites.  Who had an app store for smartphones, Apple or Google?  Who had a bookstore first?  Who has swipe to unlock?  Think a little more before you think about who copies who.

    • Drew

      “…seems to hinge on looking at what their neighbours are doing and trying to do the same thing or slightly better..”. I’d like to sit down and have a word or two with you about iOS 5 and their notification system if I may…

  • Anonymous

    Steve should tell samsung to go fuck themselves and go with LG for all the displays. True story.

    • Anonymous

      Yea but I’m sure samsung makes better screens

      • Anonymous

        Were u aware that LG and Chimei Innolux Corp. Along with Samsung make
        the displays for the iPad 2? Some numbers I saw for last quarter were
        4 million by samsung, 3.2 million by LG and I do not remember the
        amount for Chimei Innolux. I realize LG can not make ALL the displays
        but perhaps Apple might take every display LG makes and use samsung
        and Chimei to top them off. Just spit ballin. True story.

      • Anonymous

        …and is the ipad 2 a retina display? nope…

      • Anonymous

        What the fuck does that have to do with anything? I was joking that
        apple should tell samsung to fuck off and just get LG to make their
        displays.

    • Anonymous

      Samsung’s PLS panels are better than IPS. More importantly, where would Apple go for RAM, flash memory and CPUs?

      • Anonymous

        Taiwan semiconductor or Intel said they would re tool to get apples
        foundry business. I was totally un aware that only korea could produce
        quality products that apple would buy. Ever thought that china,
        japan, Taiwan, etc etc have the ability also? True story.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

         Many companies make RAM.  Samsung is not the end all be all and who knows if they are even the best at that. 

  • Anonymous

    Samsung: “Fuck that, pay me!”

  • Booboolala2000

    More Samsung displays for android. Win! Plus, the holdup it would create for Apple to update its phone line. Priceless

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JNKVTT7PJMXPYP2GVCIERBQQCU Andrew

      That implies that Android manufacturers are willing to pay for that.  I doubt samsung want their direct competitors loading all their hardware on their devices and selling more than Samsung devices.

  • Hockey88

    Both are losers. Nokia is going to eat their lunch once they start releasing the WP7 phones similar to the N9.

  • http://twitter.com/Translatethis27 Translatethis27

    It’s Apple that copies Android

  • http://twitter.com/Translatethis27 Translatethis27

    Stop fighting now Apple

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