OpenAI moved to toss Apple’s trade‑secrets suit on Tuesday, arguing that the Cupertino giant’s internal security practices, not the alleged theft, lie at the heart of the dispute. Apple’s complaint, filed in July, accuses the artificial‑intelligence company of orchestrating a scheme to obtain confidential hardware information from former Apple engineers who later joined OpenAI. The lawsuit seeks to halt OpenAI’s development of AI‑driven devices, claiming the firm stole "trade secrets" related to component manufacturing, testing, supplier relationships and distribution channels.
In its motion, OpenAI shifts the focus from the conduct of former employees to Apple’s own handling of sensitive data. The company points to policies that allowed staff to use personal iCloud accounts for work purposes and alleges that Apple failed to revoke access promptly when engineers departed. OpenAI’s filing includes text‑message records that show an Apple manager stayed logged into the personal iCloud of former engineer Chang Liu after his exit, using the account to transfer files and later asking Liu for technical help on Apple projects.
OpenAI contends that Apple’s complaint does not identify the specific trade secrets at issue, describing them only as "generic categories" of the product‑development process. The AI firm argues that without clear definition, the allegations amount to a pretextual effort to slow a competitor. "OpenAI has no use, need or desire for Apple’s trade secrets," the motion states, adding that the company is building entirely new hardware that does not rely on Apple’s confidential information.
Apple, meanwhile, has asked the court to expedite discovery, saying its internal investigation suggests additional former employees may have participated in or witnessed the alleged theft. The tech giant maintains that the information was improperly accessed and that OpenAI’s defense hinges on Apple’s own security shortcomings.
The dispute highlights a broader tension between talent mobility in the tech sector and the protection of proprietary data. As AI firms race to integrate advanced models into consumer devices, companies like Apple are tightening legal defenses to guard their hardware roadmaps. OpenAI’s strategy, however, seeks to portray the alleged disclosures as benign assistance from former colleagues rather than a calculated breach.
Legal experts note that the outcome may hinge on whether the court accepts OpenAI’s argument that Apple’s failure to secure employee accounts nullifies the trade‑secret claim. If the motion succeeds, Apple could be forced to revisit its off‑boarding protocols and data‑access policies. If the case proceeds, the parties face a potentially protracted battle over the definition of trade secrets in an era where AI and hardware development increasingly intersect.
Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
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