Judge Urges Apple, Samsung to Meet Before Jury Deliberations

News
By Tuan Mai
published

Could Apple and Samsung finally come to a settlement agreement?

Since before the massive trial between Apple and Samsung began three weeks ago, residing judge Lucy Koh has repeatedly urged the two companies to settle their dispute out of court.

Finally, with the end of the trial closely approaching, the two companies finally agree to meet one last time before the jury receives its instructions.

"I don't mean to waste their time," Koh stated, discussing concerns for the possibilities of a hung jury and the ramifications of a verdict for both sides. With an army of expert witnesses taking the stand one after another, and numerous legal documents and exhibits to consider, it's no surprise Koh worries for the jury. Especially after the two companies can't seem to agree over the jury's final instructions before deliberations.

Earlier in the week, Samsung and Apple were able to agree on a number of instructions noted in a 30-page filing. Which is nice, until you consider the second 273-page filing outlining all of the disputes. Now with each of the two sides approaching the final hours of their allotted 25, both Samsung and Apple have brought up copious amounts of evidence to support their case.

Regardless of the verdict, both sides have clearly made their point and brought attention to their intellectual property, while spending a whole lot of money. If the two end up reaching a settlement agreement, we may finally see a civilized end to this arguably trivial feud. On the other hand, if the jury can't agree to a verdict we may end up with a mistrial and back to square one.

Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai is a Los Angeles based writer and marketing manager working within the PC Hardware industry. He has written for Tom's Guide since 2010, with a special interest in the weird and quirky.
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • master_chen
    LOL! Lazy conglomerates are laaaaaazy...
    Reply
  • guru_urug
    *skeptical african kid*
    So you are saying, big corporations spend millions arguing over a shape?

    Seriously Apple, just get over it. This whole issue has spiraled out of control. The legal system shouldnt entertain this kind of rubbish in the first place. Manufacturers should have enough faith in their products than to resort to poop-flinging. Its a disgrace to technology and hampering real innovation and progress. The money spent in this whole drama would been used to fund research to develop better phones,battery tech, touchscreens, the works....
    Reply
  • pacioli
    Judge then was quoted as saying, "Why can't we all just get along?"
    Reply
  • rantoc
    Shame the jury can't dismantle part of the broken patent system, any sane person know it's supposed to protect innovation - Not be abused like a 10c hooker in the battle between the corps where the taxpayers have to pay for the childish bickering. Whats even worse is that few of the big corps pay anything back in the form of taxes they are supposed to. Tax evasion, move as much of the staff as possible to places with zero rights and then try to appear to care about the country they operate in.

    Patent round corners... the patent offices around the world must be laughing at the American patents, undermining the really innovative ones as the patent offices credibility is sinking like a rock.
    Reply
  • freggo
    I just hope there are plenty of IT guys in the jury who are all tired if the 'patent' bickering of Apple.

    Maybe Samsung and ALL the other electronics manufacturers in Asia and elsewhere should join and kindly remind Apple that without them they can close shop as Apple has no manufacturing of their own.

    Reply
  • subaru41
    guru_urug*skeptical african kid*So you are saying, big corporations spend millions arguing over a shape?Seriously Apple, just get over it. This whole issue has spiraled out of control. The legal system shouldnt entertain this kind of rubbish in the first place. Manufacturers should have enough faith in their products than to resort to poop-flinging. Its a disgrace to technology and hampering real innovation and progress. The money spent in this whole drama would been used to fund research to develop better phones,battery tech, touchscreens, the works....
    I agree with you.

    Look at the results in the UK below. That is how this lawsuit should end.

    http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Apple-UK-Samsung-Lawsuit-Apology,16363.html
    Reply
  • saturnus
    rantoc...the patent offices around the world must be laughing at the American patents, undermining the really innovative ones as the patent offices credibility is sinking like a rock.
    Don't have to be a patent officer for that. Everyone laughs at and ignores American patents.
    Reply
  • cbfelterbush
    What a laugh. Gene Roddenberry's Star Track. Tablets are all over that show, and its from the 80s and early 90s. Apple's Founder is on record saying that Apple takes ideas from all around them and steal truly innovative tech to use in their device. I will say that Apple was ONE of the first companies to sell a Popular touch screen device. Bu the basic shape and function have all been done well before Apple even entered the mobile segment in 2008.

    I think it is sick that a fledgling company like Apple that has a breakthrough device all the sudden feels like the originator of the tech in 2006, When a company like Samsung that has spent well into the 30s of Billions of dollars in R&D since the early 90s.

    I think it is safe to say that Apple in this reminds me of the old BASF commercial. WE don't make a lot of the things you buy, we make a lot of the things you buy better. Apple simply tool a large list of great ideas and tech and build a piece of hardware that just worked well enough to change the market. But it wasn't the only Phone that was out that was out that was like it. The LG Prada came out first and has an earlier development timeline. There were a lot of phones and devices being made that were square or rectangle with a full screen, it is the natural progression of technology.

    -CB
    Reply
  • guru_urug
    cbfelterbushThe LG Prada came out first and has an earlier development timeline.
    Guess the "Devil wears Prada" ;)
    Reply
  • teh_chem
    No, no settlement! We need legal precedent with an established verdict. I know Samsung probably violated some of the claims, but I also feel like they invalidated a significant amount of the other claims, which IMHO would significantly impact Apple's stance overall--which is what we, as consumers, would really benefit from. If they settle on this, it will do nothing but pave the way for other lawsuits on the same grounds, and then we'll have to put up with it ad nauseum. Not sure what I'd do if in Samsung's shoes, but as an observer I really hope this goes all the way to a verdict.

    cbfelterbushWhat a laugh. Gene Roddenberry's Star Track.It's Star TREK!!!!!
    /nerdrage
    Reply