National · 5 updates
OpenAI has hit back at Apple's trade secrets lawsuit with a public letter, "Apple is getting this wrong," published hours after Apple sought a preliminary injunction against the ChatGPT maker and ex-employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu. OpenAI released redacted iMessages showing Apple staff asking Liu for files, called it residual access, and accused Apple's lawyers of a February email mix-up.
Apple last month sued OpenAI and the two former employees, both now working for OpenAI, alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets to benefit the ChatGPT-owner
OpenAI has asked a US federal judge to dismiss Apple's trade secret lawsuit, calling the case baseless and pretextual. The 31-page filing argues Apple is suing to cover its struggles in the AI talent market and its failure to integrate AI into products. OpenAI also says Apple's own iCloud policy left former employees with access to files. Apple, which claims over 400 ex-staff joined OpenAI, wants an injunction.
More than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI, according to the initial complaint.
Apple's lawyer told a federal court in San Jose that the iPhone maker wants to inspect devices of a few former employees who joined OpenAI, not all 400. Judge Edward Davila said he was highly likely to side with Apple in the trade secrets case, and OpenAI agreed not to use allegedly stolen information. OpenAI also accuses a returning Apple engineer of taking its files.