Cisco sues Apple over iPhone Trademark

[Natobasso]

Cisco sues Apple over iPhone Trademark
http://www.nzmac.com/news/internatio...ringement.html

Any average Joe (me included) can look up the trademark to iPhone and realize that Cisco Systems owns it: http://www.uspto.gov.

Add this to the list of legal woes facing the company at the moment. Jobs' presentation was so good he almost made me forget all about it...

[simbalala]

They knew all along that Cisco had it. It’s most likely just a question of how much Apple will pay them for it.

[Natobasso]

It's a pretty blatant and flagrant disregard for the law. What does Apple do when someone uses something of theirs that's trademarked, eh?

[fryke]

I find it strange how they didn't seem to approach them *before* introducing it. Maybe they did. Well... We'll see. Worst case, they'll have to rename it (and everyone's still going to call it iPhone). I didn't see a product name on the product itself.

[simbalala]

Originally Posted by fryke

I find it strange how they didn't seem to approach them *before* introducing it. Maybe they did. Well... We'll see. Worst case, they'll have to rename it (and everyone's still going to call it iPhone). I didn't see a product name on the product itself.

They did: Expected Agreement

Maybe once Cisco saw how much Apple’s stock jumped yesterday they decided to ask a whole lot more.

[ScottW]

From what I read... and what Cisco is quoted as saying, is that Apple apparently had "terms" of an agreement on their desk as of Jan 8, 2007. On Jan 9, Apple comes out and promotes the iPhone and still, COB on Jan 9, Cisco still has not got a contract back.

Cisco is just trying to let the world/media know that their iPhone is still in play, that no official agreement has been made, and to make Apple look like a goof. The interesting thing here, we have not seen the whole story. It could simply have been an oversight (that someone will get fired for) or perhaps, Apple owns the trademark all over the world, except in the USA... and while I am not a legal expert nor do I know trademark case law, but perhaps, owning trademarks all over the world, might trump a single non-used trademark in the USA.

This will be interesting to see how it comes out. If Apple is doing something on purpose, it is because they know something we and Cisco don't. The fact that Apple has discussed the name with Cisco and apparently, come to some type of terms to consider... probably means that Apple just slipt up, or at the last minute, had a change of heart.

I don't think iPhone name is all that great. Heck, it could be a called a PodPhone, that sounds better anyhow.

Just more PR for Apple and Cisco, as if they need anymore.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by ScottW

.... The interesting thing here, we have not seen the whole story. It could simply have been an oversight (that someone will get fired for) or perhaps, Apple owns the trademark all over the world, except in the USA... and while I am not a legal expert nor do I know trademark case law, but perhaps, owning trademarks all over the world, might trump a single non-used trademark in the USA.

....

Cisco's trademark is not exactly unused. IIRC, it announced its VOIP iPhone last week. For the most part, I agree with simbalala. Before Jobs announced the Apple iPhone, Apple and Cisco were on the verge of an agreement for Cisco to turn the iPhone trademark over to Apple. The Earth-shattering positive response to the Apple product took Cisco by surprise. It now wants more money--a lot more.

[simbalala]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

Cisco's trademark is not exactly unused. IIRC, it announced its VOIP iPhone last week. For the most part, I agree with simbalala. Before Jobs announced the Apple iPhone, Apple and Cisco were on the verge of an agreement for Cisco to turn the iPhone trademark over to Apple. The Earth-shattering positive response to the Apple product took Cisco by surprise. It now wants more money--a lot more.

Apple's market capitalization (going by the stock price) jumped $6 Billion yesterday.