Apple and Cisco may be playing nice with 'iPhone' lawsuit

When Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone was announced a little under a month ago, the eyes of certain Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) lawyers popped no doubt. No less than 24 hours after that announcement, came a lawsuit from the networking giant that stated Apple was infringing on Cisco's trademark claim on the "iPhone" name. Cisco already has a VoIP wireless handset from its Linksys division with the same name, the suit said.

Well, the two companies are relaxing their court stances for the moment as they both go back to the negotiation table in order to try and hash this minor little squabble out between them.

I'm quite sure that Apple and Cisco will reach an amicable agreement soon, as the "iPhone" name is now synonymous with Apple's efforts towards re-invention of the wireless handset. I'm not sure 1% of 1% of Americans even knew Linksys had an "iPhone" before this lawsuit began, but they sure do now (maybe 1.2%, heh).

Not helping matters much, though, was Apple COO Tim Cook calling Cisco's lawsuit "silly." We'll see if that comes back to haunt him.