As Samsung filed a request to see Apple's unreleased devices, Apple fired back and said they were trying to make them release trade secrets.
Patent proceedings talks between the highest level executives of Apple Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd are going on, said an Apple lawyer. This was announced in a court hearing on Friday. The battle court over the very profitable smartphone and tablet markets began in April when Apple sued Samsung. The claim was that Samsung committed patents and trademarks infringement on Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets. Galaxy products are run by Google’s Android operating system, a direct rival to Apple mobile’s OS. Samsung countered by charging Apple, also with a patents issue.
In 2010, with $7.5 billion worth of sales of semiconductors, Samsung was Apple’s biggest customer next to Sony. On Friday during the hearing, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh asked why the two companies can’t just get along. Koh suggested that the companies try to settle the case outside of court, citing the two companies’ close business relationship. When Apple attorney Harold McElhinny mentioned that the highest level executives were made aware of the case, Koh asked if it’s possible to get them together. McElhinny said they were in fact meeting and talking.
Samsung filed a request in May to see Apple’s unreleased iPhone and iPad version which they said is highly relevant to its defense. A judge ordered the same request to Samsung. Apple did not agree with the request and said it was an attempt at harassing the company into revealing its trade secrets. Koh was aware of the issue but made no bench rule on it. On Thursday night, Apple made revisions on its complaint versus Samsung by adding a further patents issue.
The Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, 11-1846 case is filed in the Northern District of California Court.
