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Apple Warns Additional Former Employees Might Have Illegally Transferred Confidential Data to OpenAI
Apple has filed a request for a preliminary injunction in its ongoing trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, aiming to halt the AI company from developing any devices or products that utilize Apple’s proprietary technology. The smartphone manufacturer also alleges that additional former employees may be implicated in the theft of its confidential information.
In a recent court submission, Apple is seeking accelerated discovery proceedings against the accused employees at OpenAI — including senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan — as well as against OpenAI itself, its affiliated foundation, and io, the hardware startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive.
Apple further states that ongoing investigations have uncovered evidence suggesting 11 more former Apple employees beyond Liu and Tan may have served as witnesses or been otherwise involved in the case, alongside individuals previously mentioned in the original complaint, such as OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng.
This latest filing represents an escalation in Apple’s legal confrontation with OpenAI, indicating that the company has discovered new evidence suggesting the scope of unauthorized access extends beyond the employees initially cited in the lawsuit.
The court documents state, “For example, another former Apple employee reportedly met with Mr. Liu and Ms. Peng prior to Ms. Peng’s interview at OpenAI and shared confidential details about unreleased products during that meeting.” It also notes, “Yet another former Apple employee took screenshots of sensitive internal documents related to an upcoming product before joining OpenAI.”
Apple claims that after it filed its original complaint, multiple former employees currently working at OpenAI contacted them regarding the return of work devices they retained from their time at the company, implying there could be further involvement in the alleged theft.
Apple is pressing for expedited discovery procedures because it believes there are reasonable grounds to suspect additional individuals are complicit in the misappropriation of its intellectual property. The company also mentions that its request for a preliminary injunction remains pending review by the court.
In response, OpenAI published a blog post addressing Apple’s latest move, stating that the request for a preliminary injunction is “based on false claims and entirely unnecessary, as we neither possess nor seek access to Apple’s trade secrets.”
The OpenAI statement continued, “We are focused on developing innovative products and technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
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Apple has filed a request for a preliminary injunction in its ongoing trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, aiming to halt the AI company from developing any devices or products that utilize Apple’s proprietary technology. The smartphone manufacturer also alleges that additional former employees may be implicated in the theft of its confidential information.
In a recent court submission, Apple is seeking accelerated discovery proceedings against the accused employees at OpenAI — including senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan — as well as against OpenAI itself, its affiliated foundation, and io, the hardware startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive.
Apple further states that ongoing investigations have uncovered evidence suggesting 11 more former Apple employees beyond Liu and Tan may have served as witnesses or been otherwise involved in the case, alongside individuals previously mentioned in the original complaint, such as OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng.
This latest filing represents an escalation in Apple’s legal confrontation with OpenAI, indicating that the company has discovered new evidence suggesting the scope of unauthorized access extends beyond the employees initially cited in the lawsuit.
The court documents state, “For example, another former Apple employee reportedly met with Mr. Liu and Ms. Peng prior to Ms. Peng’s interview at OpenAI and shared confidential details about unreleased products during that meeting.” It also notes, “Yet another former Apple employee took screenshots of sensitive internal documents related to an upcoming product before joining OpenAI.”
Apple claims that after it filed its original complaint, multiple former employees currently working at OpenAI contacted them regarding the return of work devices they retained from their time at the company, implying there could be further involvement in the alleged theft.
Apple is pressing for expedited discovery procedures because it believes there are reasonable grounds to suspect additional individuals are complicit in the misappropriation of its intellectual property. The company also mentions that its request for a preliminary injunction remains pending review by the court.
In response, OpenAI published a blog post addressing Apple’s latest move, stating that the request for a preliminary injunction is “based on false claims and entirely unnecessary, as we neither possess nor seek access to Apple’s trade secrets.”
The OpenAI statement continued, “We are focused on developing innovative products and technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
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