Network equipment manufacturer Cisco Systems Inc. and computer company Apple Inc. announced that they have reached an agreement that will allow both of them to use the name iPhone, after Cisco sued the iPod manufacturer in January for unlawful use of that name for its new multimedia phone.
Not disclosing the financial details of the agreement, a joint statement from the two companies states that both can use the trademark iPhone for their products worldwide, and that both will dismiss all lawsuits related to this case. Furthermore, it is emphasized in their statement that Cisco and Apple will explore collaboration opportunities in the field of security and communications. After Apple introduced its long-awaited multimedia phone called iPhone in January, Cisco sued it claiming that it is its protected trademark.
Cisco acquired the iPhone trademark in 2000, after purchasing the company Infogear, which previously owned it, and has been selling devices under that name for several years. Linksys, a branch of that company, has been selling wireless products named iPhone since the beginning of last year, and in December added new products to that line. (H)
