Sam Oliver
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.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
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24 Comments
Both companies need each other. Apple needs Samsung as they can supply to both the demand and the quality required. This is easily infered by the fact that Samsung is still supplying Apple and hasn't been cut out of that loop. Despite all the people demanding Apple drop Samsung as a supplier or saying in the very near future they will drop them. Samsung needs Apple for its r &d lol Sooner or later a big wedge of cash will change hands and an agreement will be signed and the patent war will be over.
Samsung could offer Apple the opportunity to put iAds on their Tizen phones, that would probably be worth as much as the settlements.
It's not surprising that Apple have a lot more sense than their so-called supporters who start frothing at the mouth every time the name Samsung is mentioned.
Both companies need each other. Apple needs Samsung as they can supply to both the demand and the quality required. This is easily infered by the fact that Samsung is still supplying Apple and hasn't been cut out of that loop. Despite all the people demanding Apple drop Samsung as a supplier or saying in the very near future they will drop them.
Samsung needs Apple for its r &d lol
Sooner or later a big wedge of cash will change hands and an agreement will be signed and the patent war will be over.
You mean Samsung needs Apple's fashion design R&D? LOL
I see no reason why Apple can't become their own component supplier in the future. They have the foresight, the patience, the capability, the capital, and they hate relying on unreliable outside sources. [I]"We make the whole widget."[/I] - Steve Jobs