Apple has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop OpenAI from building products using stolen technology, while claiming its legal team has identified more former staff members involved in the theft than previously known.
Expanded scope of inquiry
The iPhone maker’s latest filing asks the court for expedited discovery from senior systems engineer Chang Liu, Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI, the OpenAI Foundation, and io. Io is the device startup co-founded by Apple’s former lead designer Jony Ive.
Apple states its ongoing investigation has already uncovered 11 other ex-employees beyond Liu and Tan who could be witnesses or involved in the case. This list includes individuals previously named in the original complaint, such as OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng.
New evidence of misconduct
The filing suggests the wrongdoing extends further than the initial group of accused staff. Apple notes that another former employee met with Mr Liu and Ms Peng before Ms Peng’s interview at OpenAI. They discussed Apple proprietary information regarding unannounced products during that meeting.
A separate former Apple employee took screenshots of confidential documents relating to an unannounced product before attending an interview at OpenAI.
After Apple filed its complaint, multiple former employees now working at OpenAI contacted the company to discuss returning work devices they kept when they left. Apple claims this suggests more people were possibly involved in the scheme.
The company is pushing for expedited discovery because it believes there is good cause to suspect others are involved in the theft of its intellectual property. Apple notes its motion for a preliminary injunction remains pending.
OpenAI’s rebuttal
OpenAI responded publicly to the latest filing in a blog post. The company stated Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction is based on false information and completely unnecessary. OpenAI added it does not have nor want any of Apple’s trade secrets.
The AI model maker said it is much more interested in building innovative products and technologies that push the frontier.
OpenAI also pointed to earlier mistakes Apple made, including an incident where Apple emailed the wrong person after confusing two similar surnames. The company alleges Apple lied about discussing matters with its general counsel. OpenAI stated Apple did not admit the claim that residual access allowing former employees to access Apple’s system was the result of poor security procedures on Apple’s part.
What it means
Apple is trying to prove a wider network of insiders passed data to OpenAI. The request for quick access to documents aims to identify these people before the company builds new devices. OpenAI denies the accusations and says Apple’s own security lapses contributed to the situation.
