Apple Sues OpenAI Over Stolen Hardware Trade Secrets

Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary, and two former Apple employees. The lawsuit alleges they used stolen trade secrets to speed up the development of OpenAI's consumer devices. This creates a direct legal conflict, even as the companies partner to integrate ChatGPT into Apple products. The 41-page complaint, filed in California, names OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan and engineer Chang Liu. Apple claims a "coordinated pattern of misconduct" involving confidential product designs and manufacturing methods. They also allege OpenAI used former employees, interviews, and suppliers to get protected hardware information. One former employee, Chang Liu, allegedly accessed Apple’s network storage after leaving and downloaded dozens of files, including over 1,000 pages of technical data. The other, Tang Yew Tan, is accused of asking job candidates to bring actual parts, prototypes, and design materials to OpenAI interviews. Apple is seeking injunctions, damages, and potentially exemplary damages for willful conduct. This lawsuit complicates the important commercial relationship between Apple and OpenAI, despite their separate agreement for ChatGPT integration. This legal action highlights the ongoing battle over intellectual property in the tech industry.