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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Apple settles Rendezvous trademark dispute

AppleInsider: "Apple Computer, Inc. and Tibco Software have settled a trademark dispute through a mutual out of court settlement, AppleInsider has learned. Last year, Tibco of Palo Alto, Calif., alleged that Apple's Rendezvous networking software, used in Apple products such as the Mac OS and iTunes Music Store, infringed on its Rendezvous name. Tibco's Rendezvous software allows applications to share data across networks, but came to market prior to Apple's similar Rendezvous technology. In a suit filed in the District Court for the Northern District of California, Tibco said that it has been using the Rendezvous trademark since 1994 and was seeking unspecified damages for competitive and economic harm caused by Apple. Earlier today, Tibco representatives confirmed that the two companies had come to an out of court agreement, but were not at liberty to discuss the terms of the pact. An official request for dismissal was reportedly filed by Tibco earlier this month. Sources close to the negotiations say that, as part of the deal, Apple has agreed to phase out its use of the Rendezvous name."

Related: "According to sources, Apple Computer, Inc. filed for a trademark on the term 'OpenTalk' with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 8th, just 24 hours after the company reportedly settled a trademark dispute with Tibco Software over the use of the term Rendezvous. Not surprisingly, the filing includes a description of OpenTalk that is strikingly similar to Apple's current Rendezvous technology: 'Computer software for the automatic configuration of computer networks, computer programs, computer peripherals and other electronic devices.'"

[ Posted at 7:34 PM | Permalink ]