Cisco gives Apple more time over iPhone name lawsuit

Extension granted until 21 February

16 February 2007 12:20 GMT / By Amber Maitland

In the ongoing saga of the iPhone name dispute, Cisco has granted Apple another extension of negotiations, this one to last until next Wednesday, 21 February.

"Cisco is fully committed to using the extra time to reach a mutually beneficial resolution", said the company in a statement.

The two companies are at loggerheads of the use of the iPhone name. Cisco has had the trademark since 2000, and has brought out a range of wireless handsets under the name.

Apple's line on the lawsuit has been that it's silly. It was filed in a US District Court in northern California, and seeks to prevent Apple from “infringing upon and deliberately copying and using Cisco's registered iPhone trademark”, according to a statement from Cisco.

The two companies announced an extension to their discussion on 1 February as well.

Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco's iPhone name”, said Mark Chandler, senior VP and general cousel at Cisco, in a statement at the time the lawsuit was filed.

“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 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", Chandler concluded.

"We think Cisco's trademark lawsuit is silly. There are already several companies using the name iPhone for VOIP products, and we believe that Cisco's US trademark registration is tenuous at best", said Apple spokesperson Alan Hely.

"We are the first company ever to use the iPhone name for a cell phone, and if Cisco wants to challenge us on it we are very confident we will prevail."