Cisco iPhone Lawsuit versus Apple

• Author: Jarrod Goddard
• Date: January 11, 2007 7:51:57am PST
• Posted To: Apple, Industry News and Buzz Words

Just after the announcement of the iPhone, Cisco has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California against Apple, Inc., (formerly Apple Computer, Inc.) over the use of Cisco's registered iPhone trademark.

Cisco Launches Lawsuit against Apple

I had heard that Cisco owned the trademark for iPhone a while ago, so I really thought Apple would have used a different name for their new iPhone product, however, when Steve Jobs announced the iPhone on Tuesday, I assumed they had settled or come to some agreement on the trademark and everything was ok. Well, after reading this press release from Cisco regarding the iPhone lawsuit. That is clearly not the case. I can honestly say I'm a little disappointed in Apple for this. This seems like a thing another large, computer/tech company would do to try and bully another company over a trademark, which I really didn't see Apple as.

Cisco's Lawsuit is Valid

Reading this response from Cisco's SVP and General Counsel (Marl Chandler), he clearly explains Cisco's point of view, which I totally agree with. I am even more shocked to hear that Apple and Cisco were in talks over the trademark and Apple simply went ahead with it anyway. How can Apple be that arrogant?

My Predicted Outcome

I think that this whole thing will eventually get settled. I can almost guarantee that Apple will find some way of using the trademark iPhone, which I would almost guarantee includes settling with Cisco over this. Clearly they have no defense in court over the matter.

My prediction is that this suit will be settled by June, and if not, I think Apple will still find a way to sue the name iPhone, even if it means they make the official name of the phone the "Apple iPhone".