Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the maker of ChatGPT of running a scheme to steal trade secrets associated with its unreleased hardware. The complaint also names two former Apple employees who were central to the OpenAI device push.
The filing marks OpenAI’s second major legal battle in one month. Just weeks ago, the company shook off trade secret claims made by Elon Musk’s xAI device, only to face a much bigger accuser.
Why did Apple file a lawsuit against OpenAI?
Apple filed the lawsuit on July 10 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. It names OpenAI, its io Products hardware unit and two former Apple employees as defendants.
Apple has been upfront about the scope.
“At every level, from members of its technical staff to its chief hardware officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI stole Apple’s trade secrets and confidential information,” Apple said in its statement. complaint.
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Chief Hardware Officer is Tang Tan. He led the design of the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods before leaving in early 2024. Apple says he has job candidates bringing parts like batteries and logic boards to interviews.
The lawsuit also accuses former engineer Zhang Liu of keeping a work laptop after he left. He allegedly exploited a bug to access Apple’s cloud storage and download dozens of files. Apple says more than 400 of its former employees now work at OpenAI.
Apple wants an injunction preventing OpenAI from using the secrets, as well as offering damages to go to trial. Adds to the range Legal battles of big tech companies On talent.
A second legal war for OpenAI
OpenAI just survived a similar battle, when a judge dismissed xAI’s trade secrets suit with prejudice on June 15. Weeks earlier, a jury in California needed less than two hours to reject Musk’s mission betrayal claim. Presented too late.
The conflict now culminates a painful year of clashes Competing artificial intelligence models. OpenAI Hardware dates back to its purchase of startup Jony Ive, a deal worth nearly $6.5 billion last year.
Apple, by contrast, has deeper pockets and decades of hardware secrets to defend. The battle is also taking its toll on OpenAI IPO plans looming.
The two remain partners today, with ChatGPT integrated into Apple devices and a GPT-5 upgrade scheduled for this year. OpenAI has not publicly responded to these allegations at press time. Upcoming filings should show how much of Apple’s evidence remains under scrutiny.
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