The legal battle between the Cupertino firm Apple and the Korea-based Samsung have been going on for a while now. Apple has accused Samsung of copying its trademark design, and Samsung has accused Apple of doing the same. Smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Ace and the iPhone 4 and tablets such as the Galaxy Tab and the iPad were compared. The case has been going back and forth, and none of them seems to be backing down from the fight. However, according to a rumor, both parties might choose to settle outside of court. 
If you remember, Apple has recently lost a legal battle with Nokia, agreeing to pay the Finnish phone manufacturer a substantial bulk amount coupled with annual royalties. It makes sense for Nokia and Apple to butt heads, since both are competitors. However, this current legal debacle with Samsung makes no sense at all.
Regardless of whose side you’re on, let’s face it, Samsung is one of the Cupertino firm’s biggest suppliers. It delivers more than $5.7 billion worth of parts to Apple. Apple would lose a lot if it didn’t settle this dispute with Samsung. With the demand of their smartphones and tablets, Apple cannot afford to lose one of its biggest suppliers.
Apple’s lawyer suggests that both parties are considering an out of court settlement. However, the attorney failed to elaborate on the details. This developed after both parties requested the US Federal Court to order both parties to present their future devices.
Apple’s request was granted, but Samsung’s future devices have already been announced. Samsung’s request is still pending, and Apple’s next generation iPhones and iPads are still being kept a secret. The point here is, Apple has everything to lose. First of all, Judge Lucy Koh did not endorse Apple trademark infringement claims, despite ordering Samsung to present its future devices, which was no secret anyway. Apple is still tight-lipped about its future handsets and tablet. If these devices bear any resemblance to Samsung’s announced devices, it is Apple who will be in trouble.
Despite these facts, there is no way of telling who will pay who. In fact, we may never find out.
