Apple vs OpenAI: What the trade secret theft lawsuit is about

A US district judge on Tuesday partially approved Apple's request to gain early access to evidence in its trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI. The judge has ordered the AI company and other defendants to provide documents related to the hiring of former Apple employees for OpenAI's consumer hardware group, including internal communications and data collected from electronic devices.

This move could assist Apple in supporting its claims that former employees divulged confidential information to OpenAI to aid in the development of hardware products.

The lawsuit, filed in July, alleges that OpenAI, io Products, and two former Apple engineers - Chang Liu and Yu-Ting "Alyssa" Peng - stole or used Apple's trade secrets and violated confidentiality agreements. Apple claims that Liu, who worked at Apple for over eight years as a senior system electrical engineer, did not return an Apple-issued computer upon leaving the company in January.

The company further alleges that Liu exploited a security flaw to access internal file storage, downloaded confidential files pertaining to Apple's hardware, and shared information with Peng, who was still employed at Apple at the time, to help her prepare for job interviews with OpenAI. Additionally, Apple accuses Tang Yew Tan, a former Apple vice-president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch who joined OpenAI, of soliciting Apple candidates to discuss confidential technologies and bring product components to interviews during job prospects.

OpenAI responded in August, denying Apple's allegations and accusing the tech giant of inaccurately portraying their communication before initiating legal proceedings. OpenAI further claimed they were open to discussing the allegations with Apple and offered to work towards a resolution, but now assert they have been subjected to a "careless, aggressive and oddly personal" lawsuit.