OpenAI Claims Ex-Employee Took 100+ Secret Files on Unreleased Device Back to Apple
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OpenAI claims 100-plus secret files followed ex-employee back to Apple
Apple's trade secrets spat with OpenAI has taken a new turn, with the ChatGPT maker accusing a former employee of taking more than 100 confidential files about its unreleased hardware back to Cupertino. In a court filing submitted Wednesday, OpenAI claims the unnamed employee, who joined from
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OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges
NEW YORK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - An OpenAI employee who left the ChatGPT maker for Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and later made a presentation about the unreleased product to senior Apple leadership, a new filing in the lawsuit
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OpenAI says ex-employee took device files before returning to Apple
In a San Jose court filing, OpenAI alleges the employee later pitched its unreleased product to Apple's senior leadership. OpenAI says a former employee who went back to Apple sent more than 100 secret files about an unreleased OpenAI product to personal accounts, according to a court filing made
[4]
OpenAI Turns the Tables on Apple in Legal Fight Over Trade Secrets
The trade secrets battle between OpenAI and Apple just took another turn. In a new federal court filing, OpenAI accused a former employee of transferring more than 100 confidential files related to an unreleased device to their personal accounts, according to Reuters. The employee later allegedly
[5]
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI today suggested Apple could be using its trade secrets, the very thing Apple is already suing OpenAI for. In a court filing, OpenAI accused an ex-employee of giving sensitive data about an unreleased product to Apple. The unnamed employee joined OpenAI from Apple and then returned after six
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Apple, OpenAI head to court over AI trade secrets, with the case on the line
Both motions are argued on the same day, one to bind OpenAI for the length of the case and one to end it outright A federal judge in San Jose hears two opposed motions on the same day, Apple's request to stop OpenAI using anything taken from it and OpenAI's request to throw the case out. Apple won
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OpenAI accuses employee who left for Apple of leaking plans for unreleased device
Hours before Apple and the ChatGPT maker were due to face off in court, a new allegation delayed the showdown An OpenAI employee who left the ChatGPT maker for Apple sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and later made a presentation about the unreleased
[8]
Apple and OpenAI face off in trade secret hearing
A federal judge is set to hear Apple's request for an injunction and OpenAI's motion to dismiss the case on Wednesday Apple $AAPL and OpenAI are scheduled to face off in federal court Wednesday in the first major hearing of the iPhone maker's trade secret lawsuit against the artificial
[9]
OpenAI vows not to use trade secrets allegedly taken from Apple
OpenAI agreed not to use trade secrets that Apple claims were stolen by employees who defected from the iPhone maker to the artificial intelligence startup while a legal fight between the companies plays out. The ChatGPT maker made the voluntary concession during a court hearing Wednesday in which
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OpenAI Says Employee Who Left for Apple Took Files About Unreleased Device
OpenAI is pushing into consumer hardware, a market dominated by Apple An OpenAI employee who left the ChatGPT maker for Apple sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and later presented the product to senior Apple leadership, a new filing in the lawsuit between
[11]
Apple vs OpenAI news: Apple vs OpenAI: What the trade secret theft lawsuit is about
In the lawsuit, which was filed in July, Apple accused OpenAI, io Products and two former employees, Chang Liu and Yu-Ting "Alyssa" Peng, of taking or using its trade secrets and breaking confidentiality agreements. A US district judge on Tuesday partially approved Apple's request to access
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OpenAI Accuses Apple Hire Of Taking 100+ Confidential Files - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
OpenAI has accused a former employee who joined Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) of transferring more than 100 files related to an unreleased product to a personal account and later presenting the work to Apple's senior leadership, escalating a trade-secrets battle between the two companies. * Apple stock
[13]
OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges
An OpenAI employee who left the ChatGPT maker for Apple sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal account and later made a presentation about the unreleased product to senior Apple leadership, a new filing in the lawsuit between OpenAI and Apple alleges. In a filing in US
[14]
Apple's Trade Secret Case Against OpenAI Goes to Court | PYMNTS.com
This is the first major public hearing in the high-profile lawsuit, according to the report. It could show how credible senior federal judge Edward J. Davila finds Apple's case. The hearing is on two motions. One is by Apple, which wants an injunction to block OpenAI from accessing or using its
[15]
OpenAI Claims Ex-Employee Took Unreleased Device Secrets Before Joining Apple
OpenAI has accused a former employee who returned to Apple of transferring more than 100 confidential files related to an unreleased device to personal accounts. The allegation, made in a new court filing on October 14, adds another twist to the increasingly bitter legal dispute between the two
[16]
OpenAI alleges ex-employee shared files about unreleased product with Apple, says iPhone maker can benefit from trade secrets
"OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple," OpenAI said. OpenAI has accused a former employee who joined Apple of sending more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased product to a personal account. The employee later
[17]
Apple gets court approval to access OpenAI's hiring documents in trade secrets lawsuit: Check details
The records could include interview guides, checklists, instructions, manuals, scripts and technical presentations. Apple has received court approval to access certain hiring documents from OpenAI as part of its trade secrets lawsuit against the AI company. A US judge has ordered OpenAI to share
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OpenAI alleges a former employee who returned to Apple after six months transferred over 100 confidential files about an unreleased device to personal accounts. The ChatGPT maker claims the employee later presented its product plans to Apple's senior leadership, raising concerns about trade secret theft as both companies battle in court.
OpenAI Alleges Former Employee Transferred Confidential Files to Apple
OpenAI has escalated its legal fight over trade secrets with Apple, filing new allegations that a former employee transferred more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased device to personal accounts before returning to the iPhone maker
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. The unnamed employee, who joined OpenAI from Apple and stayed for just six months, allegedly sent the files just after midnight in Singapore on June 2, his final day at the company3
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Source: The Register
The confidential files included detailed images of at least one unreleased OpenAI device, along with engineering data, manufacturing details, supplier information, and specifications for cosmetic finishes and reports on coating and sealing hardware components
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. According to the court filing submitted Wednesday in San Jose, California, the ex-employee took files to personal accounts before departing the ChatGPT maker2
.Alleged Presentation to Apple Senior Leadership Raises Concerns
OpenAI's allegations extend beyond the file transfers. The company claims the former employee made a presentation about OpenAI's product plans to Apple's senior leadership months ago, including the tech giant's vice president of operations in Asia
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. This presentation allegedly occurred before Apple's latest push into AI-powered hardware, including its newly announced smart home products like the $299 HomeView display launched on Tuesday3
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."OpenAI is very concerned that its trade secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can shape Apple's upcoming products based on OpenAI's confidential and innovative work," the company stated in its filing
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. The timing of these allegations is significant, coming as Apple makes moves into AI hardware development and after the presentation allegedly took place months earlier5
.Apple Denies Claims as Legal Dispute Intensifies
Apple has firmly rejected OpenAI's allegations, stating it has policies and procedures in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers
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. The company told Reuters it has found no evidence to support OpenAI's claims5
. In a letter dated October 12, Apple's lawyers noted that the phone numbers OpenAI identified did not match the employee's work number, and Apple found no OpenAI files on its servers3
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Source: MacRumors
The accusations mark a dramatic reversal in a legal dispute that began when Apple sued OpenAI in July, alleging that former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan took confidential engineering information about unreleased products to help the ChatGPT maker develop its own AI hardware
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. OpenAI denied those accusations at the time, stating it had "no interest in other companies' trade secrets"1
.Related Stories
Court Proceedings and Potential Counterclaims
US District Judge Edward Davila indicated during a hearing that he is "highly likely" to grant Apple's request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting OpenAI from using Apple's allegedly stolen trade secrets
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. In response, OpenAI agreed not to use the alleged trade secrets while the case continues. As part of this agreement, forensic evidence will be collected from the devices of 14 staff members who may hold Apple data3
.OpenAI has asked the court for time to investigate the matter and potentially bring counterclaims against Apple, though no such counterclaims have yet been filed
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. The judge also granted Apple expedited access to some forensic evidence on Tuesday, allowing the company to obtain OpenAI's hiring and interview records and question Liu, Tan, and Alyssa Peng under oath sooner3
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.Implications for AI Hardware Development
This corporate espionage dispute highlights the intensifying competition in unreleased AI hardware development between two tech giants. OpenAI acquired io, the hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion last year, signaling its serious push into consumer hardware
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. Meanwhile, Apple has been developing its own AI capabilities, recently announcing it was revamping Siri with Google's Gemini models and severing ties with OpenAI after previously partnering in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into Apple devices4
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Source: PYMNTS
A preliminary injunction could mark a significant setback for OpenAI's AI hardware development efforts as it seeks to compete in the consumer device market
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. The case is likely to proceed to trial in October 2027, though OpenAI has indicated it could be ready by June 20273
. As both companies continue to expand their AI product portfolios, this legal dispute over trade secret theft will likely shape how they approach talent acquisition and protect their unreleased device information going forward.References
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