OpenAI files a motion to dismiss Apple lawsuit

### OpenAI Seeks Dismissal of Apple Trade Secret Lawsuit, Rejects Allegations of Misconduct

OpenAI has asked a federal court in California to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Apple accusing the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees of misappropriating trade secrets. The legal dispute centers on Apple’s allegation that confidential information was obtained from former employees and could have been used by OpenAI as it develops new hardware products. OpenAI has strongly rejected the accusations, arguing that Apple has failed to identify specific trade secrets that would support its claims.

In a motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, OpenAI said the information described by Apple consists largely of broad categories related to product development and does not meet the legal requirements needed to sustain a trade secret case. OpenAI maintains that it is developing technology that is fundamentally different from Apple’s existing products and has no reason to use confidential Apple information. Apple filed its lawsuit in July, claiming that OpenAI had pursued confidential information through former employees, recruitment efforts and relationships involving suppliers.

Two former Apple executives later joined OpenAI, becoming part of the legal dispute between the two technology companies. OpenAI’s 31-page filing takes an aggressive position against Apple’s allegations and argues that the lawsuit reflects broader difficulties Apple has faced in competing for AI talent and integrating artificial intelligence into its products. The company accused Apple of attempting to use litigation to address what OpenAI characterized as weaknesses in talent retention and AI development. OpenAI also challenged Apple’s handling of employee data, arguing that the company’s own policies may have contributed to situations in which personal and corporate information became difficult to separate.

According to OpenAI, Apple permitted employees to use personal iCloud accounts for work-related activities and later reviewed personal messages stored on company devices. OpenAI argues that Apple should not interpret the resulting access to information as evidence of deliberate theft by former employees who may not have known that certain files remained accessible. The legal battle escalated after Apple asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction preventing OpenAI from using the alleged trade secrets while the case proceeds. OpenAI responded by disputing Apple’s account of its communications with the company before the lawsuit was filed.

OpenAI said Apple had previously claimed that it contacted the company in February but later acknowledged that outside lawyers had sent an email to the wrong person after confusing two similar Asian surnames. OpenAI also disputed Apple’s claim that its general counsel had participated in a discussion about the allegations, saying that such a conversation never occurred. The company further argued that Apple did not raise the specific accusations that later appeared in the lawsuit during its earlier communications and instead indicated that it was resolving the matter.

OpenAI said it heard nothing further from Apple for several months before the lawsuit was filed. The company also pointed to messages involving former Apple employee Chang Liu, arguing that the communications showed an Apple employee had contacted Liu after his departure to seek assistance locating files. OpenAI said those messages contradict the suggestion that Liu had actively attempted to steal Apple information. The company also defended former Apple executive Tang Tan, saying he had consistently made clear that he would not use confidential information belonging to previous employers.

The dispute highlights the increasingly complicated relationship between Apple and OpenAI, which are also business partners. Apple has integrated ChatGPT into Siri and other Apple Intelligence experiences, while iPhone users can access ChatGPT through Apple’s software ecosystem. Reports indicate that hundreds of former Apple employees have joined OpenAI, adding another dimension to the companies’ increasingly competitive relationship.

The court must now determine whether Apple’s allegations contain enough specific information about the alleged trade secrets to allow the case to proceed. The outcome could have broader implications for employee mobility, technology partnerships and the protection of confidential information as major companies compete aggressively for AI talent.