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Apple and Samsung Negotiating Agreement to Settle Patent Disputes Out of Court

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Apple and Samsung may be close to reaching an agreement that would settle all patent infringement lawsuits out of court, claims Kim Yoo-chul of The Korea Times (Via Fortune). This account follows a previous report from late last week that Apple and Google/Motorola have reached an agreement to drop all ongoing litigation between the two companies.

apple_samsung_logos.jpg
Samsung and Apple are reportedly in the early stages of negotiation with some key details on royalty payments still under negotiation.
"Samsung has recently resumed working-level discussions with Apple and the key issue is how to dismiss all lawsuits," one source said, declining to be named.

[...]

"Some more time will be needed to fix terms of details such as royalty payments in return for using patents owned by each before reaching a full agreement."
Click to expand...
Apple and Samsung recently faced off in a California court as part of the second US patent infringement lawsuit between the two companies. In the case that concluded earlier this month, the jury found that Samsung willfully infringed on three of the five Apple patents involved in the lawsuit and ordered the Korean company to pay Apple a sum of $119.6 million. Apple also was found guilty of infringing on one of Samsung's patents with damages totaling $158,400.

Article Link: Apple and Samsung Negotiating Agreement to Settle Patent Disputes Out of Court
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/19/apple-samsung-patent-settlement/
maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
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Hopefully this will happen, both companies probably spent more money in lawyer fees/court costs then what either ever gained.
 
2

2457282

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Dec 6, 2012
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It would be great to see this resolved so that Apple can focus on developing new products.

Having said that, I will miss the mud slinging. Wait... no I won't. :)
 
Apple Knowledge Navigator

Apple Knowledge Navigator

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Mar 28, 2010
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maflynn said:
Hopefully this will happen, both companies probably spent more money in lawyer fees/court costs then what either ever gained.
Click to expand...

The outcome is less to do with money, more for personal pride and establishment. While Apple had every right to sue Samsung, one can't help but feel that there are double standards involved based upon the market share of a competing product.

Samsung haven't been the only company to emulate Apple design, but the nature of their successes (in particular, the Galaxy line) has clearly ruffled the board's feathers.
 
K

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
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:(
VulchR said:
A sad day for lawyers everywhere.... :)
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Well, there are still all the hours involved in drafting the paperwork. :)

My guess is that the turning point was the last lawsuit. Apple reached the point of diminishing returns such that the lawsuits no longer paid for themselves. At the same time, they were still costly enough for Samsung that fighting on made no more sense, either. Add Google's inability to gain much traction in its lawsuits and so all parties have a motive to settle.

So patents won't be the thermonuclear battleground Steve Jobs thought they'd be. In the end Apple may get a nice little income stream for a few years, and maybe a chance to patch things up with the rest of Samsung.

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miniroll32 said:
The outcome is less to do with money, more for personal pride/establishment. While Apple had every right to sue Samsung, one can't help but feel that there are double standards involved based upon the success and/or market share of a competing product.
Click to expand...

I think the courts have been reluctant to allow software patents to be used as weapons to gain sales injunctions, and see royalties as the best solution. The decisions in cases involving Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Google, Microsoft and Nokia have mostly reflected that.
 
J

J.gerbes

macrumors 6502
Jun 11, 2012
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Wait, isn't this all part of Samsung's infringe now > stall > pay later strategy?

What's the bet that no settlement can be reached, with many months trying wasted
 
L

linuxcooldude

macrumors 68020
Mar 1, 2010
2,480
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J.gerbes said:
Wait, isn't this all part of Samsung's infringe now > stall > pay later strategy?

What's the bet that no settlement can be reached, with many months trying wasted
Click to expand...

Since Apple already made an agreement with Google, I'm wondering if Samsung realized they needed to do the same as Google would not protect them any more. They also can't blame Google like they did with the previous trial.
 
John.B

John.B

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Jan 15, 2008
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Samsung is going to do what they want anyway, regardless of any agreements that may or may not be in place. It's just how they do business.
 
M

Mark Booth

macrumors 68000
Jan 16, 2008
1,654
494
If there's a cross licensing deal as part of the agreement, I hope Apple doesn't license the Samsung patent for making crappy products. Nor the one that causes the corporate culture to be one of steal first and fight court battles later!

Mark
 
PracticalMac

PracticalMac

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Jan 22, 2009
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Exactly Samsung's tactic, as said by a previous article on the subject.

Fight until cannot fight more, then settle before getting stuck with a much bigger court imposed fine.
 
S

samcraig

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Jun 22, 2009
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PracticalMac said:
Exactly Samsung's tactic, as said by a previous article on the subject.

Fight until cannot fight more, then settle before getting stuck with a much bigger court imposed fine.
Click to expand...

Of course some people are forgetting one thing. If it wasn't in Apple's best interest to settle. Why would they? Why not let it play out.

Personally I think this is a good thing for both parties involved. They should have settled many months and trials ago.
 
PracticalMac

PracticalMac

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
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samcraig said:
Of course some people are forgetting one thing. If it wasn't in Apple's best interest to settle. Why would they? Why not let it play out.

Personally I think this is a good thing for both parties involved. They should have settled many months and trials ago.
Click to expand...

Didn't say it was good or bad, its just how Samsung does business.

Copy, get sued, fight fight fight, loose, appeal, loose, settle just before settling slapped with huge court ordered fine.
 
E

eddieaus

macrumors regular
Feb 19, 2009
131
113
great, now Samsung phones will have a price hike, as if they are not already over priced.
 
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