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Information Technology News iPhone deal a cheap outcome for Apple and Cisco
Information Technology News iPhone deal a cheap outcome for Apple and Cisco | iPhone deal a cheap outcome for Apple and Cisco |
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| by Stephen Withers | |
| Thursday, 22 February 2007 | |
  
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Indeed, one of the arguments put forward by Apple was that iPhone had become a generic term, which meant the Mac and iPod maker had as much right to use it as anybody else. By agreeing to share the trademark, Apple and Cisco have avoided the risk that a court would find that it is generic. The two companies can also form a united front against anyone else that tries to use the trademark in related categories. It's interesting to note that the companies say they are both "free to use the 'iPhone' trademark on their products throughout the world" even though neither has secured trademark protection in all major markets. And, of course, there are the significant savings in legal costs by avoiding a trial. The out of court settlement should be no surprise. The companies were negotiating a deal prior to Apple's announcement of its breakthrough mobile phone, and Cisco has repeatedly extended its deadline for reaching an agreement. Since the details have been kept secret - "Other terms of the agreement are confidential" concluded the terse joint statement - we have no way of telling what the sticking points were, or which company blinked first.{moscomment} |
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