Apple's case against OpenAI for allegedly stealing trade secrets has seen new developments: a federal judge ruled that Apple can quickly obtain recruitment-related materials from OpenAI. Specifically, the court approved Apple's request to review documents related to "OpenAI's contact with Apple employees before interviews" — these applicants were targeting positions in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics departments, at a time just before rumors of OpenAI's first hardware device emerged. The relevant documents may include interview lists, guidelines, scripts, technical demonstrations, and records that confirm "Apple technology or components were mentioned during interviews."
Lead judge Edward Davila required OpenAI to provide the organized materials within 5 days, and to complete the remaining related materials within 14 days; he also approved Apple's access to private chat records on LINE involving OpenAI employees Liu Chang and Peng Ailisa, and ordered out-of-court depositions of the two individuals and hardware chief Deng Yaotan (all three previously worked at Apple).
Allegations of espionage target chips and blueprints, some requests denied
Apple's complaint is very specific: it claims that former Apple employees downloaded confidential information using company laptops, including unpublished technical specifications, engineering demonstrations, and exclusive project data; even more, former Apple employees who have joined OpenAI are accused of "teaching" potential leavers what information to bring during interviews. Background to this is that OpenAI is developing consumer hardware that could compete with the iPhone, which is the root of Apple's concern.
However, the judge did not fully approve all of Apple's requests: Apple's request for expedited discovery of specific research materials such as metal surface treatment and power management was denied, as well as broader hardware research materials and output from "former Apple employees after joining." Davila left an opening — Apple can narrow the scope and reapply, and this battle over trade secrets is clearly far from over.
