Apple & Cisco have come to an agreement to both use the name iPhone, drop legal actions, work on interoperability (in future projects or with the iPhones?), plus some undisclosed agreements.

Personally it does not bode kindly for Apple's image. From unveiling, Apple appears to have muscled for a name knowingly owned by another. But Cisco wanted interoperability from the outset, so perhaps both parties got what they wanted. Apple could have avoided this by using their famous innovation to generate another name.

Similarly there is the hubub about Martha Stewart using Katonah trademark in her furniture line. Katonah says "No Thank You Martha," for fear of diluting the value of that name. I think Stewart has a better case since Katonah does not have trademark ownership and is already used by a variety businesses. On the flip side I don't know if she could protect the name from use by others.