The patent war that recently consumed the mobile industry and the media went from a boil to a simmer in 2013, but a new trial between Apple and Samsung set to begin in March could put patents back in the spotlight in 2014. Just the thought of patent battles heating up again is enough to make anyone cringe and according to a new report, Samsung and Apple might finally feel the same way. Unnamed officials at Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly told The Korea Times that Apple and Samsung have resumed talks and are discussing ways to end their feud once and for all.
“As far as I know, the companies recently resumed working-level discussions toward the signing of a potential deal. They are in the process of narrowing differences over royalty payments,” one anonymous FTC official told the site. He added that beyond Samsung and Apple discussing the matter directly, the FTC is also discussing the matter with antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Europe.
The report stated that Samsung’s mobile boss JK Shin may fly to the U.S. to meet with top Apple executives early next year with the intention of discussing a possible licensing deal, but it noted that the two companies are still having tremendous difficulties agreeing on how much the various patents in question are worth.
This article has been updated to clarify that The Korea Times’ unnamed sources reportedly operate within Korea’s Fair Trade Commission rather than Taiwan’s FTC.
