OpenAI says former employee stole product plans and shared them with Apple
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| Source: The Verge | Original article
OpenAI alleges a former employee stole over 100 files on its product plans and shared them with Apple leadership after moving to the tech giant.
OpenAI has added a fresh allegation to its ongoing trade‑secrets lawsuit against Apple. In a filing submitted on Wednesday, the AI firm says a former employee who left OpenAI for Apple copied more than 100 confidential documents that detail an unreleased OpenAI product. The employee is accused of transferring the files to a personal account and later presenting the material to Apple executives, including the company’s vice‑president.
The claim marks a new front in the legal battle that began earlier this month when a U.S. judge partially granted Apple’s motion for expedited discovery, ordering OpenAI to produce forensic images of devices and related documents (see our coverage on Oct. 14, 2026). By alleging that proprietary product plans were handed over to a direct competitor, OpenAI is seeking to demonstrate that Apple benefitted from misappropriated trade secrets, potentially strengthening its request for injunctive relief and damages.
The allegation matters because it raises the stakes of the dispute beyond procedural discovery to substantive claims of corporate espionage. If the court finds the transfer of files intentional and the presentation to Apple material, it could lead to significant penalties for Apple and reinforce the legal protections around AI‑related intellectual property. The case also highlights the broader risk of talent mobility in the fast‑moving AI sector, where employees routinely move between rival firms.
What to watch next: the court’s response to OpenAI’s new filing, any motions for sanctions or additional discovery, and whether Apple will contest the allegations or seek a settlement. Further filings could clarify the identity of the former employee and the specific nature of the unreleased device, shaping the trajectory of this high‑profile trade‑secrets fight.
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