Cisco Sues Apple Over iPhone Name
Posted on Jan 11, 07 09:56 AM PDT
Since we posted about the Linksys iPhone (owned by Cisco Systems) we knew that Cisco and Apple were on a collision course. While many see the recent iPhone line release as a cheap attempt from Linksys to put the “iPhone” trademark in use before Apple, it turns out that Cisco acquired the iPhone name in 2000, when they bought InfoGear.
As the Apple iPhone rumor grew, Cisco must have been preparing for battle with Apple, having its lawyers franticly drafting the lawsuit that was filed just one day after Apple’s announcement. I’m not sure what Cisco’s goal is: legitimate use of their trademark? Get royalties from Apple? Cut a deal to get Apple to use Linksys’ components for Airport? Your guess is as good as mine.
I’m having a hard time believing that Apple didn’t know about it, but I it looks like the iPhone name was just too good to pass on. Let’s see how Apple will argue this one in court.
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Legacy Comments
By fuck you , 11/10/07 3:16 PM (CommentID #331345)
you people are stupid there making a fuss because they get money
By bob , 04/10/07 2:12 PM (CommentID #322588)
y r they makeing such a big fuss over the name of a phone no one raly pays atition to the name they pay more atition to how the phone looks and what it does so stop fighting over the name of a stupid phone that only rich snobs and kids that comeplane about every thing can aforde. think you
By briteandsunnygrl , 14/01/07 11:26 AM (CommentID #084704)
What I don't understand is why Cisco is throwing such a hissy fit over the name in the first place. Who wants a stand alone VOIP phone anyway, unless it's incorporated in to a more universal device like the Apple iPhone? I read that Cisco had been willing to hand over the name in exchange for Apple incorporating Cisco's VOIP technology. Maybe AT&T (Cingular) nixed that possibility in its own deal with Apple.
By itoronto , 13/01/07 8:29 PM (CommentID #084539)
Other reports claim that Cisco had tried to make an agreement with Apple to allow the use of the name.
By Hubert , 13/01/07 3:38 PM (CommentID #084492)
That's an interresting comment - thanks. I can't think that Apple doesn't have a good plan for that one.
By vivavegas , 12/01/07 7:14 AM (CommentID #084085)
Apple so has them on this one. Its acutally known as the appleiphone. Notice the apple symbol before the words iphone. Just as in their iTv, its known as the AppleTV (with the apple symbol before it). Using a symbol in front changes the name completely. It sorta like using the infinity symbol in a product name.
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