Tuesday's meeting was scheduled to be the last before the jury trial begins, but Koh asked the two sides to meet on Friday to discuss the use and classification of information deemed confidential. Both sides have already been taken to task for claiming too much information in their filings is secret and so not open to the public or media. Reuters filed an objection to some of the classification last week.

There remains the possibility both sides could come to an out-of-court settlement before the trial kicks off. Both sides have met in recent weeks, though they failed to find common ground.

"If you settle after 4 p.m. Friday, I'm going to celebrate," Koh said, reminding the companies they would also be liable to pay the modest jury fees for Monday.

The hearing was taking place as Apple was reporting rising sales of both iPhones and iPads in the April-to-June quarter. The company said iPhone sales hit 26 million and iPad sales soared 84 percent compared with the same period of 2011.

The case is 11-01846 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.