OpenAI pushes back on Apple's "oddly personal" trade secrets lawsuit

OpenAI has fired back at Apple's trade secrets lawsuit over departing employees, calling the tech giant's legal complaints aggressive and oddly personal.

Apple sued OpenAI alongside former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, who now serves as OpenAI's chief hardware officer. The iPhone maker claims Liu accessed trade secrets after leaving in January and accuses Tan of seeking proprietary data during interviews, filing motions for a preliminary injunction and fast-tracked depositions. In a response reported by Ars Technica, OpenAI stated Apple went silent for five months after saying it was "resolving any issues," adding that Apple staff actually contacted Liu to ask for help locating the missing files.

Why it matters: Talent poaching fights are common, but this lawsuit directly targets key leaders building OpenAI's hardware efforts. A court injunction could force top executives into depositions and disrupt hardware work while the dispute unfolds.

Know this: OpenAI claims Tan explicitly instructed his team never to use confidential data from other companies, adding that it neither holds nor wants Apple's secrets.

Expect a tense court battle ahead as judges review Apple's request to expedite discovery.