Settlement Lets Apple Use ‘iPhone’

[onehandle]

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21 — Apple and Cisco Systems have decided that a name is not worth fighting over.

On Wednesday, the companies settled their dispute over the iPhone trademark. Six weeks ago, Cisco filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco over Apple’s planned use of the name for its much anticipated multimedia device, which combines the features of a mobile phone, an iPod and a BlackBerry.

Cisco claimed that it had owned the trademark since 2000 and was using it for a line of Internet-connected phones.

Wednesday night, in a short, ambiguously worded statement, the companies said they would dismiss all legal action against each other regarding the trademark and that Apple could use the name for its device, which it plans to start selling in June.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/technology/22apple.html

[REP]

1. ... And When Did The iMac Come Out ...?

Sounds to me like Cisco figured they couldn't win this one; Apple Inc has been using i(Whatever) long before Cisco was.

[melm00se]

3. a little history

iPhone was trademarked and by Infogear and product was shipped in 1996 (pre-dating Apple's "i" campaign by 2 years)
iMac was announced and shipped in 1998
Cisco bought Infogear (and the rights to the iPhone trademark) in 2000.
Cisco announces and releases (via it's Linksys subsidiary) the iPhone (December 2006)
Apple announces iPhone (January 2007)

[Robb]

2. Wonder how much the iSettlement was for. nt

[Hawkeye-X]

4. i iDont iKnow.

iThen iWho iCares?

[leQ]

5. this is one device i wouldn't mind having. i saw the video of MacWorld

and saw the presentation of it. what a sharp looking device.