I was telling you yesterday that Steve Jobs would have tried to end it amicably the disputes between Samsung and Apple regarding patents, however, were hit by the Asian company's refusal to cooperate. Today we learn that Samsung made a proposal to Apple to end the legal battles in Australia, the country where the Asian company agreed not to sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. The lawyers of the 2 companies did not disclose the provisions of this proposal, but it would probably be about either a sum of money or the mutual licensing of some technologies.
Samsung Electronics Co. made a proposal to Apple Inc. to resolve their patent dispute in Australia regarding touch-screen technology, a Sydney court was told today. Samsung lawyer David Catterns did not give details about the proposal, and Apple will need time to consider it, Apple lawyer Steven Burley told the court. Catterns's proposal is a bid to end the last dispute over patent technology in Australia that has seen Samsung hold off selling its Galaxy 10.1 tablet in the country. Apple's claim that Samsung violated patents for its iPhone and iPad in Australia is part of a wider patent battle between the two companies that has come up in courts on four continentss.
This is the first time that Samsung publicly announces that it has made a proposal to Apple to end the disputes and probably other similar proposals will exist in the other countries where the 2 companies have lawsuits in the courts. It is hard to say if Apple would be willing to accept any compromise for certain benefits from Samsung, but on the other hand, Apple would have to gain from licensing some technologies of the Korean company. In a few days/weeks we will find out the decision of the management of the Apple company and it is possible that we will no longer hear about other lawsuits filed between the 2 entities.
