Apple, Samsung Chiefs Pick Up Their Marbles and Go Home

From Erika Morphy's article in E-Commerce Times:

Judges will often order two sides to try mediation before a legal action, Ryan Radia, an analyst with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told the E-Commerce Times.

Ordering the actual CEOs to try to resolve their differences is a bit unusual, but not unheard of. In fact, the judge hearing the Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) dispute reportedly had Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Google CEO Larry Page meet face-to-face to try to resolve their differences.

Such attempts usually are not successful though, Radia said. "If companies want to settle or stay out of a courtroom, they don't need to be nudged to do so by a judge."

Given the stakes of this dispute, it is especially unlikely Apple and Samsung would ever voluntarily come to an agreement, he added.

"I think they both feel they have the stronger argument and can win the case," Radia said. "Usually firms settle when one side is clearly weaker and will probably lose in court."