After it seemed a given that Cisco was going to let Apple-maybe even transfer to Apple- rights to use the Cisco-trademarked iPhone for the new device Apple CEO Steve Jobs debuted yesterday...

Cisco Systems Inc. now says it is suing Apple in federal court over Apple's use of Cisco's registered iPhone trademark.

Cisco has owned the trademark on the name "iPhone" since 2000, when it acquired InfoGear Technology Corp., which originally registered the name.

Cisco's Linksys division put the trademark to use all of three weeks releasing an Internet-enabled phone called "iPhone" for VoIP calls.

I think the fact that Apple released the iPhone just three weeks later is probably contributing to the animus here.

"Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco's iPhone name," said Mark Chandler, Cisco senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement. "There is no doubt that Apple's new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission."

Cisco is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Apple from copying Cisco's iPhone trademark.

"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 added in his statement.