OpenAI says Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit is ‘rotten to its core’

OpenAI has officially sought to dismiss Apple's lawsuit claiming the theft of trade secrets, labeling the allegations as “meritless.” The federal motion argues that Apple mischaracterizes the actions of former employees, asserting that the information cited as stolen is merely industry-standard product development data rather than confidential trade secrets. OpenAI contends that Apple has not taken adequate measures to maintain the confidentiality of the information it is claiming.

This legal dispute stems from a lawsuit Apple filed in July, accusing former employees who transitioned to OpenAI of extracting sensitive documents to advance OpenAI's hardware ambitions. In its formal legal defense, OpenAI reflects points made in a recent blog post, where it criticizes Apple's approach as careless and overly aggressive. The company describes the lawsuit as fundamentally flawed, suggesting it relies on selective interpretations of communications and inadequate investigation.

Specifically, OpenAI points to Chang Liu, a former Apple employee now employed at OpenAI, arguing that his actions were mischaracterized. Instead of engaging in theft, Liu allegedly assisted former colleagues at Apple's request. OpenAI emphasizes its distinct operations compared to Apple, dismissing the notion that it has engaged in any dishonest practices to recruit talent. The dismissal request further suggests that Apple is seeking a pretextual legal avenue to address its own challenges in talent retention and AI integration.