Apple and Samsung are once more reported to be in talks to end their global patent battles. A Korea Fair Trade Commission official told the Korea Times that the companies are discussing a royalties deal that should put an end to their litigation.
CNET:
According to that official, the talks are in their “working-level” stage right now, and the companies are attempting to reduce “differences over royalty payments.” The Korean regulator is also working with American and European antitrust watchdogs to aid in arriving at a deal.
Apple and Samsung have been duking it out in courts around the globe over the last few years, with Apple winning a large patent infringement case in the U.S., which could have promoted Samsung to agree to talks on a settlement.
Both side reportedly feel that the other is being unfair in the dollar values they want to place on the settlement. While Samsung is willing to enter a cross-licensing deal with Apple, the Cupertino firm is reported to be looking for Samsung to pay a fee of more than $30 for every device found to be in violation of its patents.
If the negotiations fail, a long battle stretches before them, with another patent infringement skirmish set for early 2014.
