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Apple Seeks Court Order as Legal Battle With OpenAI Intensifies
Apple has asked a U.S. federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction preventing OpenAI and two former Apple engineers from accessing what it describes as confidential company information, marking the latest escalation in a high-profile dispute over alleged trade secrets tied to artificial intelligence hardware development.
Apple has expanded its legal action against OpenAI by requesting a preliminary injunction from a U.S. court, arguing that immediate measures are necessary to prevent the artificial intelligence company and two former Apple employees from accessing confidential information.
Alongside the request, Apple also filed a motion seeking to speed up the discovery process. The company wants former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, who are named in the lawsuit, to provide sworn testimony. Apple maintains that it faces “irreparable harm” unless the court grants the requested emergency relief.
OpenAI Rejects Apple’s Allegations
OpenAI quickly pushed back against Apple’s filing, publishing a statement describing the injunction request as “based on false information” and “completely unnecessary.” The company said it neither possesses nor wants Apple’s trade secrets.
According to OpenAI, Apple’s claims overlook what it describes as a longstanding issue involving former employees retaining access to company files after leaving the organization. The AI company argued that this residual access stems from Apple’s own internal access management practices rather than any deliberate attempt to obtain confidential information.
OpenAI also said that former Apple employees attempting to comply with company policies may unknowingly retain access to documents stored in Apple’s systems even after their departure.
Evidence Presented by OpenAI
In response to allegations involving Chang Liu, OpenAI released text messages that it says demonstrate Apple employees contacted Liu after he had already left the company, asking for assistance locating files within Apple’s systems.
The company further claimed that Apple’s outside legal counsel initially sent warning letters to the wrong individual in February after confusing two people with similar Asian surnames, presenting the incident as evidence that Apple’s handling of the dispute has been flawed.
Origins of the Dispute
The legal confrontation formally began on July 10, when Apple sued OpenAI, alleging the company misappropriated trade secrets while developing its own hardware products. Apple accused OpenAI of recruiting Apple engineers and encouraging them to provide confidential documents and product designs.
The lawsuit comes amid growing competition between major technology companies seeking leadership in artificial intelligence and next-generation consumer devices, where proprietary research and engineering knowledge have become increasingly valuable assets.
A Partnership That Has Given Way to Competition
The dispute represents a dramatic shift in the relationship between the two companies. Apple and OpenAI announced a major partnership in 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone, iPad and Mac ecosystem.
Relations later cooled after Apple introduced an updated version of Siri powered by Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence model instead of ChatGPT. Meanwhile, OpenAI strengthened its ambitions in consumer hardware by acquiring io Products, the startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, in a deal reportedly valued at $6.4 billion.
With Apple seeking emergency judicial relief and OpenAI firmly denying any misuse of confidential information, the case is set to become one of the most closely watched legal battles in the technology industry as both companies expand their ambitions beyond software into AI-powered hardware.
