Cisco Sue Apple Over iPhone Trademark

Cisco Sue Apple Over iPhone Trademark
By: Ken Fisher
Published 1/10/07

Cisco has sued Apple over the iPhone name a day after media reports suggested that Apple was licensing the name from the networking giant. Cisco acquired the trademark "iPhone" in 2000 from InfoGear Technology (which itself filed in 1996), and was apparently unable to reach an agreement with Apple. It now appears as though Cisco is going to force Apple's hand.

The name iPhone was already trademarked by Cisco so Apple had no right using it. The article mentions that Apple has spoken to Cisco about using the name but there was never a licensing agreement to seal the deal. It's not fair to Cisco they never agreed to let Apple use the name and yet when the phone was first introducted in late 2006 they used it anyway. Cisco has every right to take Apple to court.

Kate Rindler