Altman, OpenAI Face Trademark Lawsuit Over ‘Homophone’ Name (1)

A technology company says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman knowingly infringed on its trademark when he acquired a competitor using a confusing “homophone” of a name, according to a new federal lawsuit Monday.

IYO Inc. says IO Products Inc.—which was acquired by OpenAI Inc. for $6.5 billion in May—is violating its “IYO” mark registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office, according to a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

The defendants announced a new venture, IO, “a homophone of plaintiff’s IYO name.” The new company’s “purpose” is to launch a product that’s “eerily ...