If they were truly told to write an apology, then people are down on them because this isn't one. You cannot really apologise for anything without using the words 'sorry' or 'apologise'.
Apologies imply feelings, and corporations do not have feelings.
[BTW - the linked text kind of implies that they do have feelings; the article comes off as surly, resentful and not a little childish...]
[EDIT: Seems like they were never actually ordered to apologise, only to clarify that Samsung did not, in the judgment of the court, infringe on anything.]