What about the name - iPhone?

[Paul Robinson]

Well, so much for my punditry. Cicso is suing Apple for trademark infringement!

Turns out other companies are already using "iphone" (there's even one on the Palm!). Apple categorically denies Cisco's claim, arguing they are the first to brand a cellphone "iPhone".

It's clearly high stakes maneuvering for extra $$ in whatever settlement/licensing arrangement comes next.

I think Cisco's made a mistake. Suing Apple will only raise Jobs's dander... and lead to Apple hanging them out to dry for a bit. OTOH, Apple doesn't want the negative publicity, but then they do have 6 months to play with this.

[Paul Robinson]

Turns out that Cisco may have already lost its legal claim to the iPhone name! They apparently failed to have a product being sold or the name in actual use within 6 years or the original filing. See

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=236