Steve Jobs Opened Samsung Patent Negotiations Court Told

Apple ex-CEO Steve Jobs personally contacted Samsung management in 2010, in an attempt to hash out the ongoing patent concerns and give the Korean company "a chance to do the right thing" it has been revealed. The exec outreach news was shared as part of Apple's legal presentation in Austalian courts yesterday, the WSJ reports, though Jobs' involvement was apparently limited to just the initial olive-branch. "The discussions started with contact from [Jobs], and then he wasn't involved in meetings beyond that" senior Apple exec Richard Lutton confirmed during cross-examination.

Although Lutton described Samsung as an "important" supplier of components – the Korean company provides memory chips and other hardware for the iPad and iPhone ranges, among others, with an estimated $45.68 of the bill of materials for a 16GB GSM iPhone 4 going into Samsung's pocket – and one with which Apple has "a deep relationship," it seems Jobs' contact was nonetheless merely a prelude to demanding acquiescence. The motivation was "to give them a chance to do the right thing" Lutton explained.

Samsung obviously didn't believe Apple's interpretation of "right" was one they wanted to concede to, however, and the company pushed ahead with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch. However it has since agreed to strip out one contentious feature, selective rejection, a method of palm-rejection to avoid inadvertent touches to a touchscreen device's display.  "We can live without that feature, Your Honour" Samsung attorney David Catterns said in court yesterday. "I told you it was trivial."

The judge presiding over the case hopes to reach a decision regarding a temporary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia by next week. Samsung has agreed to hold off from sales until that ruling takes place.