Samsung gives Apple a proposal to resolve Australian patent dispute

KOREAN ELECTRONICS GIANT Samsung has offered a proposal to fruit themed toy seller Apple to resolve their patent dispute in Australia, a Sydney court has heard.

According to Bloomberg, Apple lawyer Steven Burley said the cappuccino company will need time to consider the proposal, which relates to a patent on touchscreen technology. He mentioned no details about what the proposal contains.

Samsung agreed this week to withdraw two other features from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet that allegedly infringes some of Apple's patents.

Samsung had earlier agreed to hold off selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Australia while the judge rules on Apple's request for an injunction barring the sale of the tablets. However the judge said she couldn't give a time frame for her decision on the injunction.

The companies also failed to settle their arguments today as scheduled, so the hearing will resume on 4 October, which is strangely the same day as the Iphone 5 launch.

These two companies have so many patent lawsuits going on around the world that frankly, we've lost count. Samsung has reportedly filed a counter-claim in Australia, based on 3G mobile telecoms patents it holds.

Apple has already won injunctions preventing Samsung from selling its Galaxy Tab tablet in a number of regions as the two firms continue their world spanning patent battle. µ