Apple settles iPhone spat with Cisco
updated 09:20 pm EST, Wed February 21, 2007
Apple gets iPhone mark
Cisco and Apple today announced that they have resolved their dispute involving the "iPhone" trademark. After more than a month of public sparring, the companies recently agreed to several legal extensions, following the Cisco lawsuit over the iPhone trademark (in the US as well as in the UK). Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world, according to the release. Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Both companies, however, said that other terms of the agreement are confidential.
Earlier this year, Cisco said it simply wanted its equipment and devices to work seamlessly with iPhone, while Apple called the lawsuit "silly." Despite a report that suggested that iPhone royalties could cost Apple hundreds of millions of dollars, the Cupertino-based company continued to push the network giant for rights to the iPhone name, claiming that its iPhone device was a cellular phone, while Cisco claimed the trademark based on a VOIP-based product from its consumer wireless Linksys division.
Apple still faces a possible iPhone trademark lawsuit in Canada, where it has yet to launch the device--despite reports that Roger Wireless will be the exclusive carrier in Canada.
In addition, the Cupertino-based iPod-maker may face a touch-screen patent lawsuit over its forthcoming iPhone from a UK-based company that develops and markets capacitive sensor chips for touch screen applications.
What?
02/21, 10:02pm reply
I don't get it, they basically acknowledge both could use it, recognized existing trademark rights that have been granted (I understood this to be Cisco, but this seems to imply Apple was granted a trademark). I think Apple had/has something.
slider
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 1999
No surprise....
02/21, 10:14pm reply
There was rumors the spat was for added publicity for iPhone. Given the easier resolution I believe it now.....
CobraNT
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Aug 2003
as trump would say...
02/21, 10:54pm reply
what's in it for me? how about linksys cisco products get mac intallers now, eh?
jpellino
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
Cisco VPN for iPhone
02/21, 11:26pm reply
Cisco VPN software for iPhone would be wonderful. Cisco wi-fi VOIP goodness too.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
thank god that's over
02/22, 12:24am reply
A stupid end to a stupid argument over a stupid name.
jmonty12
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2003
smokin
02/22, 12:42am reply
wow--dunno what smoke just blew over--it feels like some mellow second-hand rasta smoke just blew over this whole situation. like, whoa duuude.
GO APPLE!!! GO iPHONE!!! GO CISCO!!!
JEB
Junior Member
Joined: May 2001
Apple wins again!
02/22, 02:26am reply
Wow - First Apple Corps and now this - Apple has been wielding some serious influence lately in the legal realm of their business. Way to go! I'm sure there's a large part of this puzzle we aren't aware of.
Mongoos150
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2006
Great news
02/22, 04:37am reply
I'm glad that Apple and Cisco have managed to resolve their differences. I just hope that money didnt change hands.
Its much better for Apple if they somehow worked out a mutually beneficial agreement which allows crossovers between the two companies.
coldfusion1970
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2004
No biggie
02/22, 08:23am reply
Basically, this comes down to this: The were negotiating prior to Macworld, and the negotiations weren't done in time for the keynote. Now they are.
Apple wasn't going to cancel their keynote, and Cisco wasn't going to give up their rights just because Apple had a deadline.
gudin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
Cisco & Apple
02/22, 09:57am reply
Nothing good can come of this!
(deep thoughts from Gates & Balmer)
Tins
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2007