blogs.zdnet.com — An investigation into the ongoing trademark dispute between Cisco and Apple over the name "iPhone" appears to show that Cisco does not own the mark as claimed in their recent lawsuit. This is based on publicly available information from the US Patent and Trademark office, as well as public reviews of Cisco products over the past year. The trademark
Jan 12, 2007 View in Crawl 4
glock22ownrJan 12, 2007
You know... I am a huge fan of Apple but I must admit that the Cisco iPhone is a pretty nipply concept. Now if Apple built Skype functionality into their phone for use around a WiFi network, that would be even cooler.
4ndr01dJan 13, 2007
oh snap ! suck it cisco fanboys!!
mikeroysoftJan 13, 2007
Possible outcome:Apple wins this case, and proceeds to sue Cisco.
srdrumsJan 13, 2007
It's hilarious to see so many people with absolutely no concept of trademark law speculate so convincingly that one side or the other has an indisputable case. Trademark laws are extremely complex, especially the way this is playing out. My guess is that Apple's legal team knows something that we don't or else they wouldn't have blatantly ignored Cisco's warnings. Let's just sit back and watch the show.
eclipsJan 13, 2007
Somehow Apple's legal department can interpret publicly available information better than the rest of us? I don't think so.
jake13jakeJan 13, 2007
I would guess, considering that Cisco sent in a phony product and then just later renamed that product, that Cisco knew that they had abandoned it. However, for that sticker, it's very sloppy on Cisco's part, and their intentions seem quite obvious now. Apple, having been in negotiations, wouldn't have released the name unless they believe they had the legal right to, and they probably researched that very thoroughly, which will also give them a much easier time in court, if it goes there.
hourogJan 13, 2007
Interesting: When you Google the model number, C11200, or Cisco C11200, nothing shows up as a Cisco phone. Unless I missed something.............
muikanoJan 13, 2007
It's a nice sounding name but not really a good name for a electronic product. the big thing nowadays is energy efficient. Powerbooks. We use a lot of power. Eh. It's like that Home Improvement show. MORE POWER! Now we say, "NOT ENOUGH OIL, DOUCHEBAG"
chestertonJan 14, 2007
Unless I'm mistaken, the rules of Trademark law (not Patent, but Trademark) indicate that you must protect your Trademarks if you expect to keep them.Its entirely possible that the whole Apple's vigorous pursuit of the protection of 'iPod' last year may have been to make the argument of "well, *we* took the time to protect "iPod" and Cisco couldn't be bothered to protect "iPhone", and the dates have expired. So, Cisco's Trademark should be declared invalid."