Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing the company of illegally obtaining trade secrets to use in its hardware projects. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI systematically targeted former Apple employees to leak confidential information about unannounced products and technologies.
According to the lawsuit, Apple claims that OpenAI's hiring of its former employees was a systematic strategy to steal trade secrets. OpenAI, however, disputes these allegations, denying any interest in Apple's secrets and calling the lawsuit baseless.
Two former Apple employees are central to the case. Tang Yew Tan, Apple's former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch, joined OpenAI as Hardware Director. Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, allegedly failed to return his company laptop and retained downloaded technical documents when moving to OpenAI. OpenAI has corrected claims about its employees, indicating a conflict with Apple's allegations.
In its legal filings, Apple requested a preliminary injunction to bar OpenAI and the two former employees from accessing, acquiring, using, or disclosing its confidential information. Apple also filed a motion seeking expedited discovery, requesting depositions from Chang Liu, Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng, an unnamed OpenAI employee, and representatives of OpenAI and io Products.
Apple will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction.
Apple stated in a court filing that it will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction. The lawsuit comes after OpenAI reportedly acquired io (also known as io Products), a startup founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion.
Reported price OpenAI paid to acquire io, a startup founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive.
OpenAI has responded publicly. On its official X account, it stated, 'We are not interested in other companies' trade secrets.' In a blogpost, OpenAI said Apple's request is 'both based on false information and completely unnecessary.'
This lawsuit was filed after OpenAI successfully fended off a legal challenge from Elon Musk's xAI, according to reports.
