[dreamcompiler]

Intel invented Thunderbolt as LightPeak. Apple developed it further in cooperation with Intel.

[valuearb]

You are right. I forgot about LightPeak, which was designed to work over optical cables.

Apple came in when Intel decided to build a version for standardized cables, and helped Intel develop the spec (and even supplied the name).

But my point remains. Apple knows Thunderbolt as well as Intel does by this time.