Samsung Electronics is negotiating with the European Union (EU) antitrust regulator to resolve allegations that it abused its market position to prevent Apple from using a vital cellular patent.
The talks to settle the case commenced after the European Commission told the South Korean firm in December 2012 that it was acting unlawfully by seeking ban against Apple over using major patents.
Reuters cited an unnamed source as saying that Samsung has been involved in settlement discussions for several months now.
"Samsung wants to settle," the source told Reuters.
According to reports, if Samsung fails to resolve the case, and found to have breached competition norms in the 27 member bloc, it has to pay fine of up to 10% of its global turnover, which could be nearly $17.3bn.
EU antitrust deputy director-general Cecilio Madero was cited by the Bloomberg as saying that Samsung has to decide whether it wants to settle.
"We are ok one way or the other," Madero said.
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Both the firms are involved in legal war in several countries, with over 30 cases in 10 different jurisdictions, as they battle it out for the market crown.
In August 2012, Apple won about $1.051bn in a patent suit against Samsung, which was accused of infringing six of seven patents for Apple’s mobile devices.
