Key Takeaways:
- OpenAI has removed promotional videos about its $6.5B deal with Jony Ive’s startup, io, due to a court-ordered takedown.
- A trademark dispute from Alphabet X spinout iyO led to a temporary restraining order.
- Despite the takedown, the high-profile deal between OpenAI, Ive, and Sam Altman remains on track.
- The dispute centers only on the use of the name io, not the acquisition itself.
- OpenAI is reviewing legal options and continues work on the AI device project.
Court Clash Forces OpenAI to Pull Jony Ive Deal Promo, but the $6.5B Vision Stands
In a twist that’s part Silicon Valley drama, part courtroom saga, OpenAI has removed promotional videos celebrating its $6.5 billion partnership with Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s AI device startup, io, but not because the deal is in danger.
Instead, the takedown comes after a court order related to a trademark dispute with an Alphabet spinout. The promotional materials—which had showcased the deep friendship between Altman and Apple’s legendary design chief—were suddenly wiped from OpenAI’s website and YouTube page.
⚖️ What Happened?
At the heart of the issue is the name io.
“This page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyO about our use of the name ‘io.’ We don’t agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options.” — OpenAI spokesperson, via website update
The restraining order, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, has nothing to do with the $6.5B deal’s terms or progress. The deal remains intact, and Jony Ive is still slated to lead hardware design on a new class of AI-native consumer devices.
🚫 Meet the Challenger: iyO
The complaint comes from iyO, a stealthy AI startup incubated at Alphabet X—Google’s “moonshot factory.” The company recently revealed its own product: AI-powered earbuds that blur the line between wearables and intelligent assistants.
The legal beef? iyO claims OpenAI’s use of “io” is too similar and may already be confusing consumers. A Bloomberg Law report said the presiding judge agreed enough to issue a temporary restraining order, suggesting that the video’s visibility might be enough to spark brand confusion.
🧩 What Does This Mean for the Deal?
Not much—for now.
“The deal is on track and has NOT dissolved or anything of the sort.” — Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman
The promotional takedown is strictly about the branding, not the underlying business arrangement. According to OpenAI, it is actively reviewing its options and may fight the complaint.
In the meantime, the io team, backed by OpenAI and led by Ive, is continuing work behind the scenes on the long-awaited AI-first hardware platform.
📺 Where Can You Still Watch the Video?
Although OpenAI pulled the clip from its official channels, it’s still circulating on X (formerly Twitter). For now, fans and industry watchers can still glimpse the vision of what Sam Altman and Jony Ive plan to build, just not from OpenAI.com.
🧠 Bigger Implications: A Name, a Brand, a Battle
This may seem like a minor skirmish, but in the world of AI hardware, brand identity is gold. A clean, iconic name like io carries serious weight, especially when paired with Apple’s most famous designer.
As OpenAI looks to compete with Apple, Google, and Humane in the AI-device race, this naming dispute is more than legal red tape—it’s a shot across the bow.
✅ Final Thought
The video may be gone for now, but the vision behind it is alive and well. The Altman–Ive dream team is still building, still designing, and still planning to reshape how we interact with intelligent machines. And while the name io may face a legal test, the future of AI hardware is still very much in motion.
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