For the time being, Apple and Cisco Systems have returned to negotiations over Apple's use of the iPhone trademark for its mobile phone.

Under the agreement, Apple has to respond to Cisco's infringement suit until February the 15th. Although the lawsuit was not dropped, the two companies have agreed to extend talks still hoping to reach an agreement on trademark rights and interoperability.

The joint statement that has been released during this week says: 'Apple and Cisco have agreed to extend the time for Apple to respond to the lawsuit to allow for discussions between the companies with the aim of reaching agreement on trademark rights and interoperability.'

Cisco has owned the trademark since its acquisition of Linksys in 2000 and has also released a WiFi VoIP product that was named the iPhone. The company claims that it owns the trademark and that it sent a legal document to Apple for signing just the day before the launch event of Apple's phone.

But the negotiations didn't lead to an agreement, therefore Cisco went on and sued Apple. Although the original iPhone trademark filing dates back to 1996, Cisco has actively used the trademark only since 2006.

Apple claims that it has the right to use the name since the devices aren't at all similar. Cisco's phone is completely different from Apple's that operates over a cellular network.

Cisco on the other hand believes that Apple's mobile phone infringes on and dilutes its trademark that is 'deceptively and confusingly similar' to its line of VoIP phones. After the iPhone's launch in San Francisco, Mark Chandler, Cisco senior VP said: 'There is no doubt that Apple's new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission.'.

With a trial that could take years until the dispute is solved, the best alternative for this would be to settle it out of court and it looks like that's exactly what the two companies are aiming to do.