Tibco, which makes business integration software, uses the name
Rendezvous for its messaging infrastructure, According to its own
advertising, Rendezvous has "more than 1,000 customer installations
worldwide, and support from leading vendors in all areas".
The lawsuit accuses Apple of trade mark infringement and unfair
conduct. Apple has used the term 'Rendezvous' to describe its
networking technology and done so since September last year.
Tibco complains that it was using the mark first, and has
"expended considerable effort and money in the development and
promotion of its software under its Rendezvous mark".
"Rendezvous has been a Tibco mark for many years and is one of
our flagship products," said George Ahn, chief marketing officer,
Tibco. "For quite some time we have tried to reach an amicable
agreement but, given Apple's continual refusal to honour our trade
mark, we have been forced to take action."
So far Apple has not commented on the suit.
