Cisco and Apple Settle 'iPhone' Dispute

Cisco and Apple today announced that they have resolved their dispute involving the "iPhone" trademark.
Hostilities broke out between the two companies last month, when Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the music phone at the annual Macworld convention in San Francisco. Cisco claimed that it had owned the trademark since 2000 and was using it for a line of Internet-connected phones.
Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world.
In a joint statement, both companies said they are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world, 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. Other terms of the agreement are confidential.

Via Mobiledia

Cisco Sues Apple Over Use of iPhone Name

The Apple iPhone was unveiled earlier this week after 30 months and millions of dollars in top-secret development. But the sleek new iPod-phone combination could wind up costing the company a lot more. Cisco today announced that it has filed a lawsuit to forbid Apple from using the name "iPhone." It obtained the iPhone trademark in 2000 after the acquisition of Infogear, which previously owned the mark and sold iPhone products for several years.
Infogear's original filing for the trademark dates to March 20, 1996. Linksys, a division of Cisco, has held the trademark to brand a line of its own Internet-enabled phones that began shipping last spring and officially launched three weeks ago.
Cisco said Apple approached the company several years ago seeking to use the name, and the two have been negotiating ever since to hammer out a licensing agreement. But Cisco said the talks broke down just hours before Apple's chief executive, Steve Jobs, took to the stage Tuesday at the annual Macworld Conference and Expo to introduce the multimedia device.
With its lawsuit, Cisco is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Apple from copying Cisco's iPhone trademark.

Via Mobiledia