Google CEO Larry Page and Apple CEO Tim Cook are reportedly in talks regarding mobile patent disputes between the companies.
According to Reuters, which cited “people familiar with the matter,” both chiefs spoke on the phone last week while more discussions between “lower-level officials” are also underway:
Page and Cook are expected to talk again in the coming weeks, though no firm date has been set, the sources said. One source told Reuters that a meeting was scheduled for this Friday, but had been delayed for reasons that were unclear.
The two companies are keeping the lines of communication open at a high level against the backdrop of Apple’s decisive legal victory in a patent infringement case against Samsung, which uses Google’s Android software.
We reported earlier this week that Google’s subsidiary, Motorola Mobility, agreed to license its standards-essential patents in Germany to Apple. In the deal, which chiefly includes cellular standard-essential patents, Apple agreed it is legally responsible for past damages in connection to the patents. It is certainly interesting both companies could reach an agreement overseas. So, between the Motorola deal in Germany and the Google talks today, there just might be an end in sight for Apple in the ongoing, wide-reaching patent wars.
Reuters further reported Apple and Google might consider a truce over patent disputes on certain Android features, but the talks could also concern a sweeping settlement:
One possible scenario under consideration could be a truce involving disputes over basic features and functions in Google’s Android mobile software, one source said. But it’s unclear whether Page and Cook are discussing a broad settlement of the various disputes between the two companies – most of which involve the burgeoning mobile computing area – or are focused on a more limited set of issues.
All hopes of peace aside—there are some obvious reasons why the two CEOs, whose mobile operating systems control over 80 percent of the global smartphone market, might want to keep in touch. However, due to Samsung’s epic loss to Apple in the recent California-based patent trial, Google might now attempt to settle rather than fight.
Samsung, on the other hand, does not have any plans to ceasefire. Still aching from its patent trial loss, the South Korean company said it would appeal the jury’s findings. It will also allegedly seek a new patent litigation against Apple related to 4G LTE networks.
According to a report by The Korean Times:
Samsung confirmed that it will immediately sue Apple if the latter releases products using advanced long-term evolution (LTE) mobile technology. LTE has been emerging as the top standard in the global mobile industry.
Apple already released the new iPad with 4G LTE connectivity, so many reports have speculated Samsung plans to sue Apple when an LTE iPhone is released.
This article is cross-posted on 9to5Mac.
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