By Kim Yoo-chul
Can Samsung and Apple reach an amicable solution to their cross-patent lawsuits?
The two just may, according to sources directly involved in the process.
But neither will likely offer an olive branch anytime soon, meaning lawyers from both sides will jockey for a better position for some time to come.
Eventually a cross-licensing deal could be reached in which the two sides will be able to settle what they owe each other and pave the way for closer cooperation, the sources said.
In the negotiations are wireless-related techs, handset design, user-interface and other software-centric services.
``Quite possibly, Samsung Electronics and Apple will end the ongoing lawsuits by signing a cross-licensing agreement on various techs,’’ said one legal source, Monday.
Samsung is fighting Apple in eight different courts in six countries, although it partially dropped the lawsuit against Apple in California.
Apple had sued Samsung in April, alleging that Samsung had copied the look and feel of the iPhone and iPad.
The iPhone maker had also filed for a preliminary injunction that would block the sale of Samsung’s products while the case is being resolved.
``The one clear point is that Samsung is firm about getting royalties from Apple in return for using our various telecom-related technologies,’’ said another source, asking not to be identified citing sensitivity of the issue.
He insisted that Samsung had secured proof to back up Apple’s infringement of Samsung’s patents.
Although Apple is reaping big profits by selling its iPhones, Samsung has a longer history than Apple in running a handset business.
``Samsung has consistently been stockpiling wireless-related patents over the past few decades. It’s quite desirable for Samsung and Apple to remain as corporate friends,’’ added the legal expert.
A Samsung Electronics spokeswoman Chae Su-yeon said it has 100,000 authorized patents and many of which are for wireless technology.