OpenAI has removed online content on its website connected to its recent acquisition of Sir Jony Ive鈥檚 hardware startup, io, following a trademark dispute.
The global firm recently agreed a deal to purchase the British tech legend鈥檚 business for 拢4.9bn, marking its biggest acquisition to date.聽
However, the AI company took down various promotional materials, including a video featuring Ive alongside CEO Sam Altman discussing the collaboration from its website.
The video, which is still available to watch on YouTube, saw the two highlighting the importance of the collaboration and saying that they 鈥榗ould not be more excited鈥�.聽
The reason for the removal of such material is due to a legal complaint from California-based iyO, which is backed by Google.聽
The startup produces AI-enabled earbuds and has claimed trademark infringement.
In response, OpenAI removed a webpage announcing the partnership, which involves Ive鈥檚 team leading design efforts for the merged venture.聽
However, despite the ongoing controversy, the deal itself has not been impacted.
Bloomberg鈥檚 Mark Gurman reported on X: 鈥淭he Jony Ive and OpenAI deal is on track and has NOT dissolved or anything of the sort, I鈥檓 told.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 what happened: they were sued over the name IO and there was a restraining order issued by the judge. They had to pull all materials with the name.鈥�
Meanwhile, OpenAI has since confirmed this account, replacing the original announcement with a message stating: 鈥淭his page is temporarily down due to a court order following a trademark complaint from iyO about our use of the name 鈥榠o鈥�.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options.鈥�