Apple Escalates Trade Secret Lawsuit Against OpenAI, Seeks Preliminary Injunction

TechFlow news, August 4, according to TechCrunch, Apple has formally applied for a preliminary injunction against OpenAI, requiring it to stop developing AI devices and related products based on Apple technology. Apple's latest investigation reveals that in addition to Senior Systems Engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan named in previous complaints, another 11 former Apple employees may be involved in trade secret theft, with some personnel privately retaining work equipment issued by Apple upon departure.

Apple has also applied for an expedited discovery process, involving targets including OpenAI, its Foundation, and the device startup io co-founded by Jony Ive. In response, OpenAI publicly stated that Apple's accusations are "based on misinformation and completely unnecessary," and counterclaimed that Apple has loopholes in security procedures, allowing former employees to still access its internal systems.