Associated Press reports that Cisco is not taking Apple’s new iPhone announcement well.
Nor should they. Cisco has owned the rights since 2000 (note the circle R in the graphic above).
Three weeks ago, Cisco’s Linksys division put the trademark to use, releasing an Internet phone called “iPhone” that uses the increasingly popular Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.
Cisco said Tuesday it had been negotiating for several years with Apple over a licensing agreement but that Apple lawyers had not signed and returned the final contract.
“Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco’s iPhone name,” said Mark Chandler, Cisco senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement. “There is no doubt that Apple’s new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission.”