Cisco and Apple settle iPhone Trademark dispute

[AppleInsider]

Cisco and Apple said Wednesday that they have resolved their dispute involving the “iPhone” trademark.

Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world.

Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark.

In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications.

Other terms of the agreement remained confidential.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[webmail]

I vote that Cisco stop making poopy VPN clients and ask for Apple to help on the mac side ;-) Also they should just release the darned thing, since every huge company in silicon valley I've ever worked for could never get access to the latest updates, especially for Macs which was a huge problem AND STILL IS.

[justflie]

I guess the soap opera is over. Go Apple! And how much will you bet that AAPL goes DOWN tomorrow?!

[digitalclips]

Common sense can prevail!

[iPoodOverZune]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Cisco and Apple said Wednesday that they have resolved their dispute involving the “iPhone” trademark.

Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world.

Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark.

In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications.

Other terms of the agreement remained confidential.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Therefore, all the hoopla over trademark thingy was only to generate buzz. And I think both companies agreed to it - any publicity is good publicity. It did remain in the news for quite a while. Good that they decided to end it (not solve it, it was already solved probably!)

[PowerMacBandit]

Originally Posted by iPoodOverZune

Therefore, all the hoopla over trademark thingy was only to generate buzz. And I think both companies agreed to it - any publicity is good publicity. It did remain in the news for quite a while. Good that they decided to end it (not solve it, it was already solved probably!)

I would normally agree and it may still result in added demand for the Apple iPhone but Apples stock has been depressed since the dispute was announced. Today when the dispute was resolved the stock jumped $3.30 but is still down almost $6 from the peak it reached moments after the iPhone announcement.

[Ireland]

So Apple has the rights to use 'Apple' and 'iPhone', now just let them get on with it.

[SpamSandwich]

Doesn't solve the "dispute" over iPhone still raging in Canada, though.

This also means that iPhone is a weak trademark for protection. I think we can look forward to seeing Mattel come out with Barbie's Dream iPhone hitting the shelves in time for Christmas.

[Slewis]

Damn it! Apple Insider beat me to it. I just came across it like 2 minutes ago.

Sebastian

[Caribou Killa]

This is good news. NOBODY BITCH PLEASE! Just be happy.

[willrob]

The announcement didn't reach the "market" until after closing. The stock went up today for other reasons.

Originally Posted by PowerMacBandit

I would normally agree and it may still result in added demand for the Apple iPhone but Apples stock has been depressed since the dispute was announced. Today when the dispute was resolved the stock jumped $3.30 but is still down almost $6 from the peak it reached moments after the iPhone announcement.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by willrob

The announcement didn't reach the "market" until after closing. The stock went up today for other reasons.

Neither the dispute, nor the resolution were huge deals for either company. Apple could just as easily chosen to go with ApplePhone, and they still might for another "exclusive" line with another partner.

[DeaPeaJay]

I'm so confused. I sure hope I don't buy the wrong product in June.

[PowerMacBandit]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Neither the dispute, nor the resolution were huge deals for either company. Apple could just as easily chosen to go with ApplePhone, and they still might for another "exclusive" line with another partner.

In the long run no but in the short run it's stock has definitely reacted.

[Slewis]

Originally Posted by Caribou Killa

This is good news. NOBODY BITCH PLEASE! Just be happy.

Deleted to make some changes

[Slewis]

Originally Posted by Caribou Killa

This is good news. NOBODY BITCH PLEASE! Just be happy.

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Í´∫å߆ˆå˜

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Slewis

ˆ åµ ßø ?å??¥ †?å† Å??¬´ å˜? Ljßçø ®´?åç?´? å ß´††¬´µ˜† ?´çå¨ß´ ˜ø? ˆ† çå˜ ß†ø? ?¬å©¨ˆ˜© µ¥ ?刬¥ ?øø©¬´ ß´å®ç?´ß?

Í´?å߆ˆå˜

What the heck? Looks like Woodstock's chickenscratch language.... watch it buddy!

[bitman]

SFGate

The sticking point apparently was Cisco's demand that in order to use the iPhone name, Apple would have to open up its famously closed products to communicate with some of Cisco's offerings.

Neither company would discuss what future products might come from the collaboration. But analysts said the deal could help both companies strengthen their positions in the increasingly fierce battle to deliver video and other applications through the network directly to consumers' homes.

Zeus Kerravala, a network infrastructure analyst with Yankee Group, said there are ample opportunities for the companies to dream up collaborative projects to win over consumers.
One possibility, he said, could be the creation of a Linksys device that users call into to record podcasts that are then automatically uploaded to iTunes, which would make the creation and dissemination of such programs easier.
However, he cautioned that both companies need to be willing to share in order to make the partnership work.

"If the two actually can work together, then the combination of the two is obviously more powerful than the two butting heads," he said. "There's no company out there that understands network service like Cisco. And you could argue no other company understands user experience like Apple."

The dispute highlights the shifting business strategies for both companies.
Cisco, which is Silicon Valley's most richly valued company with a market capitalization of $166 billion, makes most of its money by selling the routers and switches that direct data traffic over computer networks.

However, the San Jose-based company is also making an aggressive push into the consumer market and toward products that help deliver content, such as cable set-top boxes, wireless broadband routers for the home, and equipment for playing digital music.
Cupertino-based Apple is also expanding its business range from beyond primarily a Macintosh computer and software maker as it capitalizes on the demand for digital music and the soaring popularity of its iTunes and iPod products.

[Slewis]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

What the heck? Looks like Woodstock's chickenscratch language.... watch it buddy!

An Alternative to English

Sebastian

[Slewis]

Originally Posted by bitman

SFGate

The sticking point apparently was Cisco's demand that in order to use the iPhone name, Apple would have to open up its famously closed products to communicate with some of Cisco's offerings.

Neither company would discuss what future products might come from the collaboration. But analysts said the deal could help both companies strengthen their positions in the increasingly fierce battle to deliver video and other applications through the network directly to consumers' homes.

Zeus Kerravala, a network infrastructure analyst with Yankee Group, said there are ample opportunities for the companies to dream up collaborative projects to win over consumers.
One possibility, he said, could be the creation of a Linksys device that users call into to record podcasts that are then automatically uploaded to iTunes, which would make the creation and dissemination of such programs easier.
However, he cautioned that both companies need to be willing to share in order to make the partnership work.

"If the two actually can work together, then the combination of the two is obviously more powerful than the two butting heads," he said. "There's no company out there that understands network service like Cisco. And you could argue no other company understands user experience like Apple."

The dispute highlights the shifting business strategies for both companies.
Cisco, which is Silicon Valley's most richly valued company with a market capitalization of $166 billion, makes most of its money by selling the routers and switches that direct data traffic over computer networks.

However, the San Jose-based company is also making an aggressive push into the consumer market and toward products that help deliver content, such as cable set-top boxes, wireless broadband routers for the home, and equipment for playing digital music.
Cupertino-based Apple is also expanding its business range from beyond primarily a Macintosh computer and software maker as it capitalizes on the demand for digital music and the soaring popularity of its iTunes and iPod products.

I don't buy it. It's very obvious how the 2 came to a settlement.

Cisco had it in the US but Apple had it everywhere else. If you go to the Story on Apple's site it states very clearly that the 2 can now both use the name anywhere in the world, including the US.

Apple does things alone, for the most part. Cisco doesn't really need Apple and Apple definitely doesn't need Cisco, no matter how valued the 2 may be in terms of money, Apple is worth far much more in terms of brand recognition.

Sebastian

[durangotang]

Since the agreement is confidential, it is hard to say if someone "won." I think that they are both winners now. And it just feels good. Like good business.

I recall Cisco's CEO saying that they have never filed a trademark dispute suit before? I am uncertain if this is true or not, but they certainly seem open and honorable in this situation. Finally a suit handled by both parties with a positive mutual agreement instead of extortion.

I certainly have much better will now towards Cisco now. And without insider knowledge, it's hard to say if Apple was at fault in the first place or not.

So we can all just forget about this and move on. I for one hope that Apple and Cisco work together on some cool interoperability. Perhaps Apple can take the first step here?

[humblepig]

This is pant-wettingly good news - now let's hope Apple resolves carrier issues in Australia in time for their Sydney Store opening...

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by humblepig

This is pant-wettingly good news - now let's hope Apple resolves carrier issues in Australia in time for their Sydney Store opening...

...and what about the trademark use in Canada? Anyone know of any updates on that front?

[kenaustus]

Originally Posted by humblepig

This is pant-wettingly good news - now let's hope Apple resolves carrier issues in Australia in time for their Sydney Store opening...

I don't believe that Telstra is the brightest company around.

I think that they will watch how well the iPhone sells from June on and realize that the competition will be able to effectively use it. the "knitting" bit is probably some ex-government worker thinking it will scare Apple. Sure.

[Johnny Mozzarella]

While Apple may have strong consumer brand recognition, Cisco has equally strong enterprise brand recognition.
I think the obvious place for Apple and Cisco to work together is Cisco IP Phones

Imagine the same phone but with an 8" multi-touch screen, an iSight and running OSX.
Cisco could sell an enterprise version to businesses.
Apple could sell a home version to consumers.
This would go a long way to legitimizing Apple in the minds of corporate customers.

[solsun]

Originally Posted by PowerMacBandit

I would normally agree and it may still result in added demand for the Apple iPhone but Apples stock has been depressed since the dispute was announced. Today when the dispute was resolved the stock jumped $3.30 but is still down almost $6 from the peak it reached moments after the iPhone announcement.

The agreement over the dispute had nothing to do with the AAPL jump today.. Prudential raised it's EPS for the stock based on strong and solid demand for Mac sales, that's why there was a run up.

And no, the stock has not been depressed since the dispute was announced.. As you said, AAPL is only trading down $6 from an all time high. That's pretty damn good considering last year after the Macworld keynote AAPL reached $87, and then plummeted all the way down to the low $50's over the course of a couple of months.. AAPL is currently holding in all time high terriority. You can't ask for more than that after a more than 2000% run over the last few years.

[Padilla79]

Well, I'm glad that this was finally resolved. They still need to lower the price of the friggin' thing.

[Slewis]

Originally Posted by Padilla79

Well, I'm glad that this was finally resolved. They still need to lower the price of the friggin' thing.

Eventually. During the Interview after Macworld... ABC News I think, Steve Jobs mentioned that the price will start to drop, probably after a year I'm guessing. But they need to sell the first batch of 10-12 Million before that happens. Fortunately I'm happy enough to pay for a unit at full price so that means only 9,999,999 to go before we start to see results

Sebastian

[TednDi]

Originally Posted by Slewis

ˆ åµ ßø ?å??¥ †?å† Å??¬´ å˜? Ljßçø ®´?åç?´? å ß´††¬´µ˜† ?´çå¨ß´ ˜ø? ˆ† çå˜ ß†ø? ?¬å©¨ˆ˜© µ¥ ?刬¥ ?øø©¬´ ß´å®ç?´ß?

Í´?å߆ˆå˜

That is exactly what I was thinking.

[jamezog]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

...and what about the trademark use in Canada? Anyone know of any updates on that front?

I heard the news on the radio this morning - no indication that the deal wasn't effective here in Canada.

...

I think when they say that "both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world," Canada would count as part of "the world."

Then again, I may be oversimplifying it. We Canadians excel at making bureaucratic messes of the most trivial things.

[Vox Barbara]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mozzarella

While Apple may have strong consumer brand recognition, Cisco has equally strong enterprise brand recognition.
I think the obvious place for Apple and Cisco to work together is Cisco IP Phones

Imagine the same phone but with an 8" multi-touch screen, an iSight and running OSX.
Cisco could sell an enterprise version to businesses.
Apple could sell a home version to consumers.
...

Provided that Jonathan got his hands on that phone.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by jamezog

I heard the news on the radio this morning - no indication that the deal wasn't effective here in Canada.

...

I think when they say that "both companies are free to use the “iPhone” trademark on their products throughout the world," Canada would count as part of "the world."

Then again, I may be oversimplifying it. We Canadians excel at making bureaucratic messes of the most trivial things.

Sorry, I should have made reference to an earlier story that a different company (not Cisco) has claimed they have the rights to use "iPhone" in the Canadian market. Don't have the link on me...

[quinney]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mozzarella

While Apple may have strong consumer brand recognition, Cisco has equally strong enterprise brand recognition.
I think the obvious place for Apple and Cisco to work together is Cisco IP Phones

Imagine the same phone but with an 8" multi-touch screen, an iSight and running OSX.
Cisco could sell an enterprise version to businesses.
Apple could sell a home version to consumers.
This would go a long way to legitimizing Apple in the minds of corporate customers.

Good call! (if you'll pardon the expression)
It is also not a large leap to functionality to route the video to a
large screen to run Apple developed teleconferencing application.

[dapple]

Is there any truth to the speculation that as part of the resolution to this patent dispute Apple has agreed to integrate VOIP into the iPhone?