{
  "id": 142631,
  "title": "OpenAI Hits Back at Apple, Calls Lawsuit ‘Careless, Aggressive and Oddly Personal’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-hits-back-at-apple-calls-lawsuit-careless-aggressive-and-oddly",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-04T18:37:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNET",
    "slug": "cnet",
    "url": "https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/openai-apple-lawsuit-released-texts-emails-august-2026-news/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three weeks after Apple filed a significant lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets, OpenAI has responded in a new blog post. The company claims Apple's lawsuit is \"careless, aggressive and oddly personal.\" According to Apple, two former Apple employees, Chang Liu and Tang Tan, improperly accessed Apple's proprietary technology after moving to OpenAI. However, OpenAI argues that Apple's own security lapses allowed Tan and Liu to access Apple's systems, stating that this was a known issue. Apple has requested the US District Court for the Northern District of California to expedite the case and order OpenAI to collect and return all Apple information it has. The case could have substantial implications for OpenAI, which is preparing to launch its first AI hardware device. OpenAI is arguing that the initial lawsuit was based on false claims, and therefore, the case should not proceed. To support its stance, OpenAI has shared selected text and email exchanges between the two companies and their lawyers, which appear to contradict Apple's allegations. These communications, along with the court documents filed in California, suggest that both companies are highly lawyered and defensive. OpenAI has released redacted text and email exchanges, which seem to support its claim that Apple made mistakes in the lead-up to filing the lawsuit. An email from OpenAI's general counsel, Che Chang, to Apple's in-house lawyers highlights the miscommunication between the parties. OpenAI also shared text messages between Liu and Apple employees after his departure from Apple, indicating ongoing file transfers and requests for advice on redacted Apple projects despite Liu no longer working there. Apple argues that these interactions and exchanges prove that Tan, Liu, and other former Apple employees unlawfully accessed Apple's cloud storage system. The court will need to determine which company's version of events is accurate. OpenAI has a strong motive to prove Apple wrong, as the lawsuit could have significant financial and reputational consequences.",
  "summary": "Newly released texts and emails give us insight into how lawyers for two billion-dollar tech companies can’t figure out how to use their email.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PC Gamer",
        "title": "OpenAI calls out Apple's 'careless, aggressive and oddly personal lawsuit' in latest blog post",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/openai-calls-out-apples-careless-aggressive-and-oddly-personal",
        "published": "2026-08-04T13:10:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}