Apple and OpenAI are trading blows in court over whether trade secrets crossed between them. The newest filing asks a judge to block OpenAI from shipping an AI device or any product that draws on Apple’s designs, and to fast-track evidence gathering from the people it accuses.
Those accused include senior systems engineer Chang Liu, chief hardware officer Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI itself, its foundation, and io, the device startup founded by Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive. Apple says its probe has turned up 11 more former employees who may have witnessed or joined the alleged scheme. One ex-worker reportedly met with two accused employees ahead of an interview at OpenAI and discussed unannounced products; another took screenshots of confidential documents before an interview.
The fight traces back to a July lawsuit in which Apple accused OpenAI of recruiting staff who carried its secrets. Apple says the misconduct appears to reach beyond the people named in the original complaint, and argues the new evidence justifies expedited discovery so it can find anyone else involved.
OpenAI disputes the account, saying in a public response that the injunction request rests on false information and that it has no interest in Apple’s secrets. The company also noted that Apple’s earlier outreach misfired, including an email sent to the wrong person after two similar surnames were confused, and questioned whether Apple’s own security practices left former staff with residual access in the first place.
