OpenAI Temporarily Removes Jony Ive Deal Promotions Following Court Order

OpenAI has quietly removed its promotional materials regarding its $6.5 billion acquisition involving Jony Ive and the device startup io, following a court-ordered trademark dispute.

Promotional Video and Website Content Removed

Recently, OpenAI’s website and YouTube channel featured a widely discussed video that spotlighted the partnership between CEO Sam Altman and Jony Ive, former Apple designer. The video not only celebrated their collaboration but also showcased OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s startup, io. However, these promotional materials have since been taken down from OpenAI’s official channels.

Court Order Stems From Trademark Dispute

The removal does not indicate trouble with the acquisition deal itself. According to reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the deal remains intact. Instead, a court issued a restraining order preventing OpenAI from using or referencing the "io" name in its marketing. This follows a trademark lawsuit filed by iyO, a company spun out of Alphabet X’s "moonshot factory," which argued that OpenAI’s promotion of the io brand could mislead consumers and lead to confusion.

OpenAI’s Response and Impact on the Deal

In response, OpenAI acknowledged the court order on its announcement page, stating, “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.” The company clarified that the legal dispute solely affects promotional content and not the larger acquisition agreement or strategic integration of Jony Ive’s team.

Background on the Trademark Plaintiffs

iyO, the company contesting the use of the "io" name, emerged from Alphabet’s R&D division and recently introduced its own generative AI-powered earbuds. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with the judge highlighting that consumer confusion may already be occurring due to OpenAI’s prominent marketing efforts.

Alternative Access and Ongoing Developments

While the promotional video has been removed from OpenAI’s platforms, it remains accessible through other channels, such as social media platform X. Both OpenAI and Jony Ive have yet to provide further public comment on how this setback will influence their collaboration moving forward.

DeepFounder AI Analysis

Why it matters

This scenario underscores how critical intellectual property and branding are in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. For startups, especially those working in cutting-edge sectors or planning high-profile partnerships, securing trademarks and conducting due diligence before public launches is strategic. The high visibility of the OpenAI–Jony Ive partnership amplifies how quickly legal factors can influence market perception and operational decisions.

Risks & opportunities

The main risk highlighted by this event is the exposure to legal challenges over naming, which can disrupt marketing, delay launches, and confuse consumers. Conversely, the dispute sheds light on the opportunity for legal-tech solutions that help startups proactively monitor, resolve, and protect intellectual property as part of their go-to-market process. Past comparable cases, such as Meta’s name transition or domain disputes among popular startups, show that rapid scaling can inadvertently trigger legal landmines.

Startup idea or application

One actionable startup concept is an "automated IP compliance engine" tailored for AI and tech startups. This platform would scan proposed product and brand names against global trademark databases, flag potential conflicts, and support founders in choosing and defensibly registering distinctive assets—enabling smoother product launches and brand rollouts worldwide.

OpenAI Jony Ive trademark AI startups branding

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