"Apple did not own the rights to the name 'iPhone' when the first iPhone was launched in 2007."
The iPhone's Forgotten Naming Battle
When the first iPhone hit the market in 2007, it changed the world. But here's a fascinating twist: Apple didn't actually own the name "iPhone" at launch.
The trademark was already registered by networking giant Cisco, which had been using the "iPhone" name for its line of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) office phones since 2006.
Just a day after Steve Jobs announced the device, Cisco filed a lawsuit against Apple for trademark infringement. The legal showdown was short-lived, however. Recognizing the mutual benefit, the two companies quickly reached a confidential settlement. This swift agreement granted Apple the right to use the now-iconic name, paving the way for the mobile revolution we know today.
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