Sam Altman calls Iyo lawsuit silly amid OpenAI's Jony Ive deal

Published Date : 25/06/2025 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticized a lawsuit filed by hardware startup Iyo, accusing OpenAI of trademark infringement. The suit stems from OpenAI's announcement of acquiring Jony Ive's AI startup io for $6.4 billion. 

OpenAI Co-Founder and CEO Sam Altman speaks at Snowflake Summit in San Francisco on June 2, 2025.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday criticized a lawsuit filed by hardware startup Iyo, which accused his company of trademark infringement. Altman said, in response to the suit, that Iyo CEO Jason Rugolo had been 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main issue in the lawsuit filed by Iyo against OpenAI?

A: The main issue in the lawsuit is that Iyo accused OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Jony Ive of trademark infringement and unfair competition, claiming that the deal with io is causing Iyo to lose its identity.

Q: What action did a judge take in response to Iyo's lawsuit?

A: A judge granted Iyo's request for a temporary restraining order, preventing OpenAI and its associates from using the IYO mark and any similar marks, including 'IO.'

Q: What did Sam Altman say about the lawsuit on X?

A: Sam Altman described the lawsuit as 'silly, disappointing and wrong' and posted screenshots of emails from Iyo CEO Jason Rugolo seeking investment and a transaction involving Iyo's intellectual property.

Q: What other legal challenges is OpenAI facing?

A: OpenAI is facing a copyright infringement case from The New York Times and a breach of contract lawsuit from Elon Musk.

Q: What is the Iyo One device, and what is Jony Ive's involvement with io?

A: The Iyo One is an in-ear wearable device with 16 microphones. Jony Ive, the former Apple designer, is involved with io, an AI startup that OpenAI acquired for $6.4 billion. 

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