Apple is more likely to reach a deal with Cisco Systems than to risk losing a trademark suit over the use of the name iPhone, experts say. In going to court, Apple would have to spend a lot of money defending an arguably weaker position. "I'm 99% certain that this is going to end up a deal," Greg Gabriel, intellectual property attorney at the law firm Kinsella, Weitzman, Iser, Kump & Aldisert, says. "I'm virtually certain that this won't go to trial."
Indeed, Cisco, which sued Apple on Wednesday for allegedly infringing on the iPhone trademark Cisco has owned since 2000, said the companies had been in serious discussions during the last few weeks before Apple CEO Steve Jobs surprised the network-equipment company by announcing the iPhone at the Macworld conference on Tuesday. "I was surprised and disappointed when Apple decided to go ahead and announce their new product with our trademarked name without reaching an agreement," Mark Chandler, Cisco general counsel, said in a company blog. "It was essentially the equivalent of 'we're too busy.'" Apple stopped talking at 8 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, and didn't contact Cisco after the launch, despite the two sides being "very close to an agreement," Chandler said.
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News source: CRN
Indeed, Cisco, which sued Apple on Wednesday for allegedly infringing on the iPhone trademark Cisco has owned since 2000, said the companies had been in serious discussions during the last few weeks before Apple CEO Steve Jobs surprised the network-equipment company by announcing the iPhone at the Macworld conference on Tuesday. "I was surprised and disappointed when Apple decided to go ahead and announce their new product with our trademarked name without reaching an agreement," Mark Chandler, Cisco general counsel, said in a company blog. "It was essentially the equivalent of 'we're too busy.'" Apple stopped talking at 8 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, and didn't contact Cisco after the launch, despite the two sides being "very close to an agreement," Chandler said.
View: The full story News source: CRN
Bill Gates has 50 Billion now (after he threw over 40% to charity, and is continuing to!
Apple...3%...I'm sorry 2.7% of the market share. Nice.
And I also think that that was cruel of Apple to announce it without reaching the deal. I have many Apple products, so I'm not some Mac hater, but I hope Apple goes to court and loses. Then maybe they won't lie about their things so much.
Anyway you look at it $100 billion is more money that one family can ever possibly use in about 10 generations. Its great to see something good come out of microsoft even if they do use greed to fuel other areas of business.
But they were in talks for months and, as the article states, Apple acted like it was "too busy" to reach an agreement before announcing that they were infringing on a trademarked name. Apple should have worked harder at reaching an agreement before announcing the name, I don't hink Cisco was unwilling to reach an agreement.
Apple has sued companies big and small for releasing any digital products with the word "pod" in the name, and they don't even have rights or trademarks to that word, after all, it is an English word many meanings. But you're right, Cisco is being stupid for not wanting another company to profit from something they actually own.
They'd be crazy to duke it out!
Chris
How about the Apple iPod Smartphone or Apple iPod+Phone
*iPhone is a registered trademark of Cisco... at least, for now.
*iPhone is a registered trademark of Cisco... at least, for now.
Perhaps. http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=236
Why doesnt Apple just switch the name? iTalk I believe is not taken.
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