Apple and Cisco have reached a mysterious settlement agreement over the use of the name iPhone. Although I predicted Apple would prevail in this post here I did not expect it to take place so soon.

Part of me wonders if the genius that is hype builder Steve Jobs actually worked with Cisco to launch the lawsuit in an attempt to gain exposure for BOTH parties' devices.

Cisco Systems and Apple said last Wednesday that the agreement allows Apple and Cisco to use the iPhone brand on their own products. Also, the companies said that they would explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security and of consumer and business communications. The brief announcement made no reference to any financial agreement, nor did it specify how the two companies might work together. Representatives for Apple and Cisco declined to comment further, citing confidentiality restrictions.

One has got to wonder if this was in the works on the eve of the unveiling of the iPhone.

Labels: Apple, Cisco, iPhone, lawsuit

The folks at Apple have had a history of fighting some pretty nasty legal battles over the years and now it seems the doors are open on another case.

Cisco has announced a lawsuit against Apple over the use of the name "iPhone'.

Cisco obtained a trademark for iPhone in 2000 after acquiring Infogear, which owned the name before. Apple is dismissing Cisco's claims as "silly" and "tenuous at best".

Apple spokesman Alan Hely states "We think Cisco's trademark lawsuit is silly. There are already several companies using the name iPhone for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products. We are the first company to ever use the iPhone name for a cell phone, and if Cisco wants to challenge us on it we are very confident we will prevail."

Cisco senior vice-president and general counsel Mark Chandler replied "Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco's iPhone name."

I expect Apple will indeed prevail. Apple has already captured the imaginations of so many with the device and the name is now worth the fight. I don't think Apple Phone would have been a poor choice for a name and would have enforced the branding, but iMac, iLife, iPhoto, iTunes, iPod et al lay the foundation for the use of the term iPhone.

Labels: Apple, Cisco, iPhone, lawsuit, trademark