Apple, Samsung 'trying to find common ground' in patent war - report
Sam OliverApple's Samsung-fabbed A7 SoC. | Source: Chipworks
A resolution to the long-running intellectual property battle between Apple and Samsung could be drawing near, as a Wednesday report out of South Korea suggested that the tech titans are working toward an agreement that would allow their important supplier relationship to continue.
"We are trimming down the number of disputed issues," an unnamed "industry official" told the Korea Times. "We no longer want to spend time talking about secondary points. Both firms are trying to find common ground."
The talks are said to be at a "working level," and both companies are believed to have taken a more pragmatic approach to burying the hatchet following Apple's repeated legal victories over the South Korean giant. In addition to winning import bans on Samsung products in a number of jurisdictions around the world, Apple has been awarded nearly $1 billion in U.S.-based patent infringement lawsuits.
Also at stake is Samsung's place as one of Apple's favored component suppliers. Along with a number of other parts, Samsung currently fabricates Apple's A-series processors at a Texas facility and is though to be aiming to win a contract to supply OLED displays for Apple's so-called "iWatch."
Apple is also said to be eager to continue the relationship, which has enabled the iPhone maker to ship nearly 1 billion iOS devices over the last seven years.
"As technology shifts toward wearable devices, Apple still wants to keep Samsung as its top-tier parts sourcing channel," another source told the paper.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
Christine McKee
