Apple settles Canadian iPhone trademark dispute

Apple has reached a settlement with Canadian telecom provider Comwave which gives Apple the legal right to use the trademark “iPhone” in Canada. The settlement was reached late Wednesday evening, prior to the iPhone 3G’s Friday launch. According to the terms of the settlement, Apple will receive sole rights to the iPhone name in Canada, while Comwave has agreed to phase out its use of the name — which it has used since 2004 to promote its VoIP phone service — by November 9. Further terms of the agreement, including financial details, were not disclosed. “I’m happy to report that we have settled our dispute,” said Comwave president and founder Yuval Barzakay. “Both parties worked hard and diligently to make sure the deal was closed prior to the launch.” Apple previously settled a trademark dispute with Cisco over the use of the iPhone trademark in the U.S., which left both companies free to use the moniker on their products.