Apple's current CEO, Tim Cook revealed that then-CEO Steve Jobs had insisted on suing Samsung in 2011.
Reuters reported that Cook was against suing Samsung as it was a critical supplier of components for the iPhone and the iPad. It is estimated that Apple purchased about $8bn worth of parts from Samsung in 2012.
Both firms have been involved in international proceedings since Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung in April 2011, claiming that Samsung's smartphone and tablet designs infringe upon iPhones and iPads.
Since then, both the firms have filed about 30 lawsuits against each other in at least 12 courts, nine countries, and four continents involving smartphone and tablet patents.
In August 2012, Apple won $1.051bn in a patent suit against Samsung.
Samsung recently won a UK court ruling that its Galaxy tablet does not infringe Apple's design.
Comments may be moderated for spam, obscenities or defamation.