Current Apple CEO Tim Cook is said to have refused to sue the firm's chief competitor, Samsung, but he was overruled by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Cook, who succeeded Jobs as chief executive after seven years as the firm's chief operating officer, objected to a lawsuit against Samsung, as the South Korean technology company supplied components for Apple's iPhone and iPad, according to Reuters' sources. The former was the only company who could meet Apple's demands in a set amount of time.
Apple is believed to have paid Samsung $8 billion last year to purchase chips and screens for the two aforementioned iOS devices. Following a deal related to flash memory in 2005, both technology titans formed a close relationship, which saw the grandson of Samsung's founder visiting Jobs at his home in California. Apparently, the partnership gave each company an insight into its operations.
However, following the launch of the Galaxy S in 2010, both Jobs and Cook complained to Samsung executives regarding the smartphone's look; Apple expected it to modify its design. Believing that Samsung was dependent on its position as a key components supplier to protect itself from legal repercussions, Jobs retaliated when Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab in 2011.
Apple filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the company during April 2011 in order to ban several Samsung devices in the U.S. It culminated in a $1.05 billion court case win for the iPhone maker, but Apple ultimately failed in its effort to apply sales bans. The latter had its request to triple said amount denied as the judge ruled that Samsung didn't willingly infringe on its competitor's patents. That said, the judge denied Samsung's request for a new trial related to the August ruling. Both companies will now face each other in court for another mega trial during March 2014.
Elsewhere, amid reports that Apple is starting to look at alternatives for chip production, the South Korean manufacturer is planning to diversify its chip business.
