Reuters reports: Executives "at the highest levels" of Apple Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd are in talks about patent litigation between the two companies, a lawyer for Apple said in court.
The disclosure came during a hearing on Friday in the battle over the highly lucrative smartphone and tablet markets, jump-started by Apple's iPhone and iPad.
Apple sued Samsung in April, claiming Samsung's Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets infringe several patents and trademarks. Samsung then countersued, asserting its own patents against Apple.
Apple was Samsung's second-biggest customer last year after Sony, accounting for about $5.7 billion of sales to Samsung mainly by purchasing semiconductors, according to Samsung's annual report.
At a hearing on Friday in a San Jose, Calif. federal court, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh referenced the close business relationship between the two companies.
"Can't we all just get along here?" asked Koh, who suggested the companies try to resolve the case through alternative dispute resolution outside of court.
"I will send you with box of chocolates, whatever," Koh said.
In response, Apple attorney Harold McElhinny said the case has gotten the attention of executives "at the highest levels" of the two companies.
"Can we get them together?" Koh asked.
"They are in fact meeting and talking," McElhinny said, without elaborating.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment, and a Samsung representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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