Tibco takes Apple to court for Rendezvous

August 28, 2003 (Macworld)

Integration software maker Tibco Software Inc. has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Apple Computer Inc., charging that Apple's Rendezvous networking software violates Tibco's trademark on its own Rendezvous messaging software.

Apple's Rendezvous technology, introduced in 2002, allows networked devices to connect automatically, easing interoperability and data transfer. Tibco has used the Rendezvous name since 1994 for several of its technology products, according to the Palo Alto, Calif. company.
Tibco's current Rendezvous software, released in 2000, is a tool for developers that enables applications on a network to share data.

Tibco contacted Apple last year to express its concerns about the identically named products, according to Tibco spokesman Bob Berger. Those discussions were unproductive, prompting Tibco to file the lawsuit yesterday. The suit is pending in the District Court for the Northern District of California.

Tibco is asking the court to compel Apple to rename its software. The company is also seeing unspecified compensatory and punitive damages fees.

Apple did not immediately return calls seeking comment.