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Earlier this week, Apple and Samsung decided to have a sit-down to discuss a potential settlement on current patent lawsuits around the world. At the behest of U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh, the two companies agreed to meet. The hope for cooperation is waning fasts as both Apple and Samsung have submitted updates to their talks that show a bitter dislike that is sure to stymie any possible settlement that might have been reached.
According to The Verge, Apple’s court mandated report notes that the company’s law firm, WilmerHale, expressed reservations about discussing settlement options after reading an interview with Samsung’s lead attorney John Quinn and CNet. In the interview, Quinn expresses his distrust of a possible reconciliation between the two companies. “It’s kind of hard to talk settlement with a jihadist.”
Quinn is referring to an email that had been submitted in court, written by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. In a private conversation between Jobs and his executives, he declares a “holy war” on Android. While that terminology is offensive, to say the least, it was meant to be read by his confidants only. Quinn openly and publicly called Apple jihadists, on record. In another interview, he also called the lengthy trial “Apple’s Vietnam,” again, openly and publicly, on record.
These interviews are what Apple’s lawyers are pointing to as reasons the settlement talks aren’t going well. Apple’s lawyers claim that they just don’t trust Samsung’s lawyers.
At the same time, Samsung submitted their report, which pretty much says the same thing, only from their point of view. Samsung’s lawyers claim that Apple is using past court victories as a means to dictate any and all possible settlement terms, including patent royalty payments. Samsung states that Quinn’s interview has nothing to do with Apple’s lack of cooperation and writes that Apple is just trying to “impose an obstacle” to reaching a resolution.
The Verge points out that neither company would benefit from a settlement. So far, court verdicts have done little to affect their financial situations and any banned devices have only affected obsolete products. Having a confirmed win on a patent infringement case holds more water than a few dollars. Samsung and Apple each want to be the one to claim the other stole ideas. No one wants to be known as a copycat, but this goes even deeper. Each wants the world to know that the other is a thief.
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