The Tandu are a race from the Uplift series. Are there IP issues with using that name in this game?

Lol, pretty much sure there would be, Uplift came out end of the 80s if memory serves and it is not yet public domain stuff.



Besides that, reading the background of the game, the author staff is more than able to deliver creative ideas.

You're right, and that's not intentional.



I read a ton of Brin novels a couple decades ago (and Startide Rising remains one of my SF all-time favorites), but it didn't click that the name was the same. On the other hand, I think the world is running into a severe shortage of alien names, given the number of games/books/movies/etc. set in SF or fantasy worlds (seriously -- make up a name, google it, and I bet there is already something out there...). I may have to switch a vowel; fortunately they are only in the backstory and not in the game! Thanks for pointing that out, and my apologies to Mr Brin should this be brought to his attention.