OpenAI Removes Reference to Jony Ive Partnership After Trademark Dispute Ruling

• OpenAI halts "io" branding after federal judge bars usage pending trademark hearing in October.
• Trademark rival IYO applauds ruling; OpenAI "disagrees" and considers legal countermeasures.

A promising collaboration between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive to create a new artificial intelligence hardware product has hit a legal stumbling block after a federal judge ruled that they must temporarily halt marketing the new venture.

OpenAI announced last month that it was buying io Products, a product and engineering company co-founded by Ive, for nearly $6.5 billion.

However, it quickly received a trademark complaint from IYO, a startup with a similar-sounding name that is also developing AI hardware and had pitched to Altman's personal investment firm and Ive's design firm in 2022.

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled late Friday that IYO's trademark infringement case is strong enough to proceed to a hearing in October. Until then, she prohibited Sam Altman,John Ive, and OpenAI from "using the IYO mark, and any mark confusingly similar thereto, including the IO mark, in connection with the marketing or sale of related products."

OpenAI responded by removing all mentions of the new venture from its website, including a page dedicated to the May 21 announcement.

Also Read:.OpenAI Onboards Jony Ive to Design AI Hardware in USD 6.5 Bn Deal

Instead, the company posted a message on Monday stating that the page "is temporarily down due to a court order" and adding, "We don't agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options."

IYO CEO Jason Rugolo applauded the ruling in a written statement on Monday, stating that the startup will aggressively protect its brand and technological investments.

"IYO will not back down and let Sam and Jony trample on our rights, no matter how wealthy and famous they are," Rugolo said.