I doubt if the two companies will settle and my guess is that it goes to the jury next week. If someone blinks, it will be Samsung. After all the trial is in Apple’s backyard and you know the last thing Steve Jobs would have said to Tim Cook was never settle this trial. I think copycat suits in technology are a hard thing to win. After all the mother of all copy cat suits was the first time Apple sued Microsoft for stealing the look and feel of the GUI. They lost that one. My guess is though the jury might have some nostalgia good feelings toward Apple and Steve Jobs and they just might win this one. If Apple wins, it will be an enormous loss for Samsung and an even greater one for Google. I think Google could lose a quick 10% or more. On the other hand, a loss for Apple would be a non event. I like the asymmetric nature of this setup. One strategy would be to buy puts on Google and calls on Apple. It’s a tough strategy because both have costly options. Longer term I think the damage between Apple and Samsung might be permanent and Samsung alternative suppliers might benefit from this.
