John Tillapaugh
Professor Pitkin
Capstone Seminar
Week 10 Summary: Apple and Cisco Settle
Ever since Apple released the iPhone at Macworld, there has been ridiculous media buzz circulating around it. With this comes issues and problems. Due to Apple's big name many have been jumping on the bandwagon crying out, "Copyright Infringement!" Those include Cisco over the trademark "iPhone", LG claiming they blatantly stole the design and look of the interface, and newly "Quantum Research fussing about the touch-screen technology.
However, recently Apple and Cisco have come to terms over the trademark "iPhone." Before Apple released the iPhone, Cisco had the term trademarked and they were supposedly in the works with Apple to come to an agreement with the use, but before they could Apple went ahead and released the iPhone. Cisco thought they were going to wait until they came to an agreement, but they didn't, which somewhat upset them. However, they were able to keep it out of the court system and come to an agreement.
Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world. Also, both companies recognize the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and will let go any pending actions concerning the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Both companies, however, said that other terms of the agreement are confidential.
Cisco had been using the trademark for nearly a year before Apple and said it was never about the money, but the principle of the matter.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/biztech/02/23/cisco.apple.ap/index.html
http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/02/21/apple.gets.iphone.mark
http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/21/apple-and-cisco-settle
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/apple-and-cisco-settle-over-iphone/