{
  "id": 121402,
  "title": "OpenAI disputes Apple's account of pre-lawsuit contacts, rejects claims that ex-staff used confidential information, shares iMessages and emails, and more (OpenAI)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-disputes-apples-account-of-pre-lawsuit-contacts-rejects-claims",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-04T06:45:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Techmeme",
    "slug": "techmeme",
    "url": "https://openai.com/index/apple-is-getting-this-wrong"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Apple is suing OpenAI and two former employees for trade secret theft, with Apple accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets related to hardware development. According to the Economic Times Tech, Apple has requested a judge to prevent former employees and OpenAI from using confidential information and has filed a motion seeking expedited discovery of relevant documents.\n\nOpenAI has denied any wrongdoing, stating that they do not want to use confidential information. In a blog post, OpenAI characterized the lawsuit as \"careless, aggressive, and oddly personal\". They also disputed Apple's account of pre-lawsuit contacts, claiming that Apple's lawyers emailed the wrong person after confusing two Asian last names and that a discussion with OpenAI's General Counsel never happened, as per 9to5Mac.\n\nOpenAI shared iMessages and emails in response to Apple's claims, with the company stating that Apple is \"one of the greatest companies of all time\" but that the lawsuit \"sadly doesn't live up to that reputation\". The lawsuit aims to protect Apple's future hardware innovations from competitors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets",
        "published": "2026-08-04T05:58:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "OpenAI rebuts Apple trade secrets allegations in new response and evidence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-rebuts-apple-trade-secrets-allegations-in-new-response-and",
        "published": "2026-08-04T06:05:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-121937",
        "published": "2026-08-04T08:04:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Digital Trends",
        "title": "Apple’s OpenAI lawsuit just tripped over an embarrassing wrong-recipient email",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/apples-openai-lawsuit-just-tripped-over-an-embarrassing-wrong",
        "published": "2026-08-04T09:04:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "OpenAI hits back at Apple's lawsuit — and says it has receipts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-hits-back-at-apples-lawsuit-and-says-it-has-receipts",
        "published": "2026-08-04T09:51:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "OpenAI hits back at Apple over ‘oddly personal’ trade secrets fight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-hits-back-at-apple-over-oddly-personal-trade-secrets-fight",
        "published": "2026-08-04T10:31:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "OpenAI drags Apple’s lawsuit into the court of public opinion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-drags-apples-lawsuit-into-the-court-of-public-opinion",
        "published": "2026-08-04T11:27:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Hardware",
        "title": "‘Apple is getting this wrong,’ says OpenAI — startup blasts iPhone maker over lawsuit alleging it stole confidential information through ex-Apple employees",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/apple-is-getting-this-wrong-says-openai-startup-blasts-iphone-maker",
        "published": "2026-08-04T11:52:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Engadget",
        "title": "OpenAI says Apple 'is getting this wrong' after trade secret lawsuit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-says-apple-is-getting-this-wrong-after-trade-secret-lawsuit",
        "published": "2026-08-04T11:54:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "New OpenAI post doesn't address Apple's IP theft claims at all",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/new-openai-post-doesnt-address-apples-ip-theft-claims-at-all",
        "published": "2026-08-04T12:04:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}