- Apple sued OpenAI, accusing ex-employees of IP theft, but did not include former design chief Jony Ive.
- Mark Gurman cites two main reasons: Ive had little involvement in alleged misconduct, focusing on hardware design rather than recruitment or operations.
- Key defendant Tang Tan, OpenAI's chief hardware officer, is accused of problematic emails and encouraging hires to bring Apple designs.
- Ive is insulated due to his close relationship with Laurene Powell Jobs, a supporter of Tim Cook and John Ternus, making legal action against him risky for Apple's image.
- Naming Ive could have drawn public sympathy to him and criticism toward Apple, potentially seen as retaliatory after his 2019 departure and subsequent designer exodus.
- Apple avoids reputational harm by excluding Ive, focusing on Tan to damage OpenAI's image and hardware work without complicating key relationships.