A few days ago,OpenAI A new project called 'io' with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive has been announced by a company called iyO The company was sued in court, and then the official io promotional materials were stopped by the court and taken off the shelves in a hurry. In the aftermath, OpenAI issued a statement saying it was "innocent".
It is reported that iyO originated from Alphabet's (Google's parent company) famous "Moon Shot Factory" program, and its main product is iyO One, a smart headset device equipped with AI technology.
And yesterday, iyo's lawsuit paperwork went viral on social media, with more previously undisclosed details emerging.
As disclosed in its pleadings.OpenAI has been aware of iyO's brand, products, and trademarks since at least 2022, and the two parties have met on several occasions, including initial contact with LoveFrom Studios, founded by Sam Altman and Jony Ive.At the time, both OpenAI and LoveFrom said they would not consider investing.
In the two months leading up to OpenAI's announcement of the io project, iyo had a series of intensive contacts with Altman and his team:
In early March, iyo requested a meeting with Sam Altman to pitch a new round of funding, which Altman declined on the grounds that he was "working on a competing project," hinting that it was called 'io' and led by Jony Ive.
In late March, the two parties re-engaged, with iyO proposing to be acquired by OpenAI and using iyO ONE as a development platform for the next generation of screen-less voice interaction devices. Altman expressed interest and introduced VP of Product Peter Welinder to broach the subject.
The following April, iyO demonstrated the product and offered trials to various core members of OpenAI; iyO gradually discovered that as early as 2024, io's co-founders had purchased its product. During the meeting, the defense showed a keen interest and offered to review iyO's IP portfolio.
In mid-May, just six days before the official announcement of the IO project, OpenAI was still trying to get more product and technical details under the pretext of "establishing intellectual property barriers". However, less than a month later, OpenAI announced that it had acquired io for $6.5 billion.
The brief mentions thatTang Yew Tan, co-founder of the io project, and Marwan Rammah, a team member, both ordered iyO ONEs, and even Marwan asked iyO's fit specialists more than an hour's worth of questions about the iyO device and its specifications during the after-sales service process, as well as requesting iyO's design documentation.
The Complaint specifies that io and iyO are highly similar in pronunciation and brand presentation, causing confusion, and that there is significant overlap in the form, use, and interaction mechanisms of the two companies' target products. Moreover, OpenAI's brand name and market volume directly suppressed iyO's exposure, causing significant disruption to iyO's financing, marketing, and IPO plans. As a result, iyO alleges that OpenAI's promotion of the "io" brand, knowing that the same trademark already exists, constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition.
Early this morning, Altman responded to the above incident with a post that said"iyO CEO Jason Rugolo has wanted and insisted that OpenAI acquire iyO, but OpenAI has explicitly refused.Altman believes that the prosecution is ridiculous and disappointing. Altman found the indictment absurd and disappointing. At the same time, Altman emphasized that "iyo's actions set a bad precedent.
Altman concluded by adding that"That said, I wish iyO all the best in building a great product, and the world needs more persistence to succeed."