Apple and Samsung will try to avoid fourth California patent trial: court-moderated settlement talks

A little over a year ago, Apple and Samsung withdrew their pending claims against each other everywhere but in the United States. Now there is more hope than ever that even the U.S. part of their dispute may come to an amicable end. In a joint case management statement filed in the Northern District of California late on Friday by local time, both parties have responded favorably to Judge Koh's recent inquiry about their willingness to engage in yet another mediation effort.Here's the document, from which I'll then quote the relevant statements on alternative dispute resolution: 15-09-11 Apple-Samsung Joint Case Management Statement by Florian Mueller"Apple's Statement: The remaining issues to be tried to a jury are limited to the amount of damages that Samsung owes for its sales of five infringing products. Thus, as an alternative to a fourth trial, Apple would be willing to participate in binding, final, and non-appealable arbitration to calculate…