Federal Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Against OpenAI, Altman, and Ive in iyO Trademark Case

In a press release, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted iyO Inc. a preliminary injunction against OpenAI, Sam Altman, Jony Ive, and io Products. The ruling, issued on April 23, 2026, prohibits the defendants from using the "io" name for their hardware while iyO’s federal lawsuit continues.

The court found that iyO was likely to succeed on the merits of its trademark claim. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, includes allegations of trade secret theft, trademark infringement, intentional interference, and unfair competition. It seeks injunctive relief, damages, disgorgement of profits, and a constructive trust over any portion of the $6.5 billion acquisition value attributed to the alleged misuse of iyO’s intellectual property.

According to the filing, the dispute began after Tang Yew Tan, a former Apple vice president and now Chief Hardware Officer at OpenAI, allegedly obtained confidential design files and prototypes from iyO in 2024. The complaint claims these materials were used in the formation of io Products, which OpenAI acquired in May 2025. Following the acquisition, iyO’s CEO reportedly confronted Altman, who refused to stop using the "io" mark.

The injunction marks a significant step in iyO’s ongoing case as the company pursues broader claims over trade secret and trademark violations.