OpenAI denies Apple's trade secret theft claims, calling the dispute Apple's own mess.
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| Source: Techmeme | Original article
OpenAI has rejected Apple’s claim that it stole trade secrets, calling the dispute a mess created by Apple.
OpenAI has formally rejected Apple’s trade‑secret lawsuit, filing a sharply worded response in U.S. District Court in San Jose on Monday. The AI firm argued that Apple has not produced any evidence that former employees took or misused confidential information, and described the case as “a mess of Apple’s own making, and it is trying to blame everyone else.” OpenAI also accused the iPhone maker of using the litigation to slow a potential competitor and to discourage staff from moving to rival firms.
The filing arrives amid a broader dispute that began earlier this month when Apple alleged that a former iPhone engineer had used a confidential circuit schematic while working at OpenAI. As we reported on 1 September, Apple claimed the former employee disclosed proprietary designs and that evidence was being destroyed. OpenAI’s latest court document pushes back, sharing internal emails and other documents in a public blog post titled “Apple Is Getting This Wrong,” and insisting that the tech giant has failed to substantiate its claims.
Why it matters is twofold. First, the outcome could set a precedent for how AI startups handle talent poaching and the protection of proprietary hardware designs—a growing concern as AI models increasingly rely on high‑performance compute infrastructure. Second, the clash underscores the tension between established hardware manufacturers and fast‑moving AI firms that are rapidly scaling their compute capacity, a dynamic highlighted by recent reports of OpenAI purchasing thousands of Apple Macs.
What to watch next: the court’s response to OpenAI’s evidentiary submissions, any further filings from Apple, and potential settlement talks. The case may also prompt other hardware companies to scrutinise employee transitions to AI firms, potentially shaping recruitment practices across the sector.
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