Seems to me this has been an issue with both Apple and Microsoft in the past. When Apple ran into this problem with OS 9, Apple promised to always refer to Mac OS 9. I'm hazy on the Microsoft case, something about always refering to Microsoft Word. Similarly, Apple might have to suck it up and market the Apple iPhone. I'm sure it'll kill Steve Jobs.

No matter what they do... the iPhone brand is already and will always be associated to comwave. Like who TF is cockwave anyhow?

Comwave is a big two man operation that makes high-tech handset antennas out of metal coat hangers. They submitted trademarks for every letter of the alphabet in front of the word Phone. They figured they were bound to catch some unlucky companies with a letter or two.

I don't think their antenna business was doing so good what with plastic coat hangers being used more now so they decided to squeeze some cash out of Apple.

Apple, they know how much the iPhone name is worth to you. Just pay up $$$

uhhhhh who cares ? Canada has like the same amount of people as the state of Ohio. Apple could just forget Canada and probably never miss the money. or they could buy this comwave and shut it down just for spite.

The Microsoft Office problem was (said to be) with Excel. There was insurance software being sold with the Excel brand. Hence the agreement that Microsoft would always say "Microsoft Excel".

Two uncertainties: did "always" extend to "now" (or has the insurance product perhaps gone away)? Are the folks in Microsoft's army of bloggers all aware of the need to say "Microsoft Excel".

(The company which makes Excel hand driers doesn't seem to be involved in the fun.)

The first problem Apple had with trade marks that I'm aware of was with the "Breakout" game that shipped with the early Apple ][s. It became "Little Brick Out" (or "Little Brickout"--I forget which) fairly soon.

@ Jay

You are part of the reason that the U.S., and it's citizens, are held with such low regard in the world community (usually it's unfair, but in your case it certainly isn't!).

We have three times the population of Ohio - but that's beside the point. Do you really think that Apple-or any other company-would say "we'll sell our widget in all 50 states except for Ohio because we won't miss the money"?

Apple should either buy the mark for a reasonable price or use the name "Apple iPhone" until Comwave goes belly-up.

Someone compared the population of Canada to Ohio ! For the record, these numbers are the population according to the US Census Bureau in 2006: Ohio: 11,478,006 - NY: 19,306,183 - CA: 36,457,549 - FL: 18,089,888. Canada is: 31,612,897.

Apple should set aside this issue quite easily with its lawyers.