Apple Initiates Legal Action Against OpenAI Over Trade Secrets
Apple has lodged a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that OpenAI has illicitly appropriated proprietary information while violating contractual commitments.
The tech giant contends that OpenAI harnessed confidential advancements to fabricate a new artificial intelligence device that remains shrouded in secrecy.
Central to the litigation are former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, who transitioned to OpenAI and became associated with the firm’s hardware division.
Apple asserts that prior to their exit, these individuals accessed a substantial cache of internal documents, inclusive of technical data, engineering presentations, and details concerning products yet to be launched.
Additionally, Apple claims that Tan misused sensitive information in the process of recruiting new personnel and disseminated details regarding Apple’s suppliers to OpenAI.
The lawsuit further alleges that other Apple employees received counsel on how to resign strategically to retain valuable materials.
The lawsuit also names io Products, a firm established by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, which OpenAI acquired last year to bolster its hardware division. Notably, Ive is not implicated as a defendant.
In response, OpenAI has repudiated the allegations.
“We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere,” stated Drew Pusateri, a spokesperson for OpenAI.
As reported by CNN, the ongoing legal dispute could threaten the anticipated launch of OpenAI’s new AI device, scheduled for introduction later this year, while also complicating the company’s trajectory towards an initial public offering.
This conflict signals another chapter in the escalating rivalry between Apple and OpenAI. Despite a partnership announced in 2024 to incorporate ChatGPT into Apple products, OpenAI has been actively enlisting engineers from Apple to fortify its hardware ambitions.
According to CNN, the firm has successfully recruited at least ten former Apple employees.
In the past few months, a growing number of leaks have indicated that Apple is gearing up for the release of its inaugural foldable iPhone.
Insiders suggest this new device may be branded as the iPhone Ultra, with a potential debut as early as fall 2026.
Expectations for this smartphone include a 7.8-inch flexible display, an updated iOS 27 interface, a Touch ID scanner in lieu of Face ID, and the largest battery ever integrated into an iPhone.
Source link: Newsukraine.rbc.ua.
