Technology One takes on SAP in name dispute - News - Business

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Technology One takes on SAP in name dispute

By David Hellaby, ZDNet Australia
June 20, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Technology-One-takes-on-SAP-in-name-dispute/0,139023166,120266121,00.htm

Aussie financial software company Technology One is preparing for a fight with international software giant SAP over the name of SAP's new Business One SME software.

Technology One's lawyers yesterday delivered a letter requesting SAP change the name of its product or face possible legal action.

However, SAP Australia and New Zealand CEO Chris Bennett, shrugged off the letter, describing Technology One's complaint as frivolous and a publicity stunt.

Technology One CEO Adrian Di Marco said 'Business One' was too similar to his company's well established business software product, Finance One, and would cause confusion in the marketplace.

He told shareholders, clients and staff of the Brisbane-based publicly-listed company that it was prepared to fight to protect its brand.

"We will do whatever we have to, to protect our name and if that means going to court, we will."

"All of our products - Finance One, Student One, Retail One, Sales One, Proclaim One and People One - have names that are linked to our company name and there are plans to extend this branding strategy into new products we plan to release," he said.

"Because of our consistent branding the name 'Business One' has the very real potential of being linked to our company and causing confusion in the software market.

-We clearly do not want our products to be confused with SAP's products."

But Bennett said he did not believe Technology had a leg to stand on and he doubted it was able to register the word 'One'.

-There is a company called Century One, so is Technology One going to sue them as well?" he said.

It is understood Technology One's concern over the naming of Business One increased after reports of problems associated with Business One.