Cisco Suing Apple Over iPhone 

At first it looked like it was all settled: The new Apple mobile phone product would be dubbed “iPhone” afterall, and Cisco, which owns the trademark to the name, was on board.

Not so fast.

A day after Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the company’s newest product line, and a day after Cisco officials announced they had been discussing the use of the name “iPhone” with Apple, Cisco has filed suit against Apple for trademark infringement.

“Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco’s iPhone name,” is how Mark Chandler, a Cisco senior vice president and general counsel, was quoted in a Cisco press release today. “There is no doubt that Apple’s new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission.”

“Today’s iPhone is not tomorrow’s iPhone,” the release continues. “The potential for convergence of the home phone, cell phone, work phone and PC is limitless, which is why it is so important for us to protect our brand.”