Apple, Samsung CEOs agree to mediation in US patent fight

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics have agreed to attend a mediation session to be held on or before Feb 19, as they prepare to clash in court in March over smartphone patents.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon will attend the session with in-house lawyers only, according to a Wednesday court filing. Their legal teams had met on Jan. 6 to "discuss settlement opportunities," the filing read.

Neither company immediately return messages seeking comment.

Apple and Samsung are embroiled in a legal battle over smartphone patents across several countries that mirrors their global battle for supremacy in the mobile device market.

The technology rivals are facing a March trial date in the United States over Apple's claims that Samsung infringed its patents.

In the last two years, Apple and Samsung have gone to trial twice in San Jose, California federal court, and juries have awarded Apple a total of roughly US$930 million (S$1.18 billion).

Apple said in court documents filed in December that its has paid its leading outside law firm approximately US$60 million to wage patent litigation against Samsung.

The case is Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, US District Court, Northern District of California, 11-1846.