Cisco Systems Inc. said Wednesday it is suing Apple Inc. in federal court over Apple’s use of Cisco’s registered iPhone trademark for its new handheld device.
Cisco has owned the trademark on the name “iPhone” since 2000, when it acquired InfoGear Technology Corp., which originally registered the name.
And three weeks ago, Cisco’s Linksys division put the trademark to use, releasing an Internet-enabled phone called “iPhone” that uses the increasingly popular Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.
On Tuesday, Apple unveiled the iPhone, its “game-changing” touch- screen-controlled cell phone device that plays music, surfs the Web and delivers voicemail and e-mail.
“Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco’s iPhone name,” said Mark Chandler, Cisco senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement. “There is no doubt that Apple’s new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission.”
Cisco is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Apple from copying Cisco’s iPhone trademark.
“Today’s iPhone is not tomorrow’s iPhone. The potential for convergence of the home phone, cell phone, work phone and PC is limitless, which is why it is so important for us to protect our brand,” Chandler added.
Well I knew this was going to happen. Especially when Cisco released their “wonderful” IPHONE just a few months ago. Apple bough the iphone.org domain name a while ago, starting all the rumors about Apple getting into the cell phone division with a phone so titled. I didn’t know that CISCO ended up with the trademark name after buying InfoGear… but I’ve got to wonder what InfoGear was going to use it for. In this case they may of had a name, but Apple had a product in the works longer (2½ Years). So I’ve got to also wonder how much Apple is going to end up paying. Because it’s rare when they actually lose a fight… rare enough to realize it’ll probably get settled outside of court.
EDIT: A great write up why the battle for the trademark is a lot weaker for Cisco then thought. They might not even legally own the trademark.
Tags: Apple, Interesting, Irony, Legal, Technology, Telephone
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