Apple v. OpenAI: a US judge partly grants Apple's motion for expedited discovery, ordering OpenAI to hand over forensic images of devices and other documents (Annelise Levy/Bloomberg Law)

A federal judge in California has partially granted Apple's motion for expedited discovery in its trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, two former employees, and io Products. According to 9to5Mac, Judge Edward Davila issued the decision regarding the misappropriation lawsuit, which Apple claims involves former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan using confidential information to assist OpenAI's consumer hardware development.

Apple also accused the defendants of improperly obtaining information from other Apple employees during recruitment interviews.

TechCrunch reports that the court will allow Apple expedited access to OpenAI’s hiring materials related to interviews with former Apple employees who applied for roles in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics groups. These materials may include interview checklists, guides, instructions, manuals, scripts, and technical presentations, as well as records indicating if discussions referenced Apple technology. OpenAI had opposed the motion, arguing with 9to5Mac that the demands were overly broad and unnecessary.

Bloomberg Law reports the judge ordered OpenAI to hand over forensic images of devices and other documents. Per TechCrunch, the court gave OpenAI five days to turn over already collected materials and 14 days for any other requested materials. In its lawsuit, Apple accused OpenAI of a pattern of theft, including claims that former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential files containing information about unannounced technologies and products.

Brief written by urgent.news from Techmeme, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.