Apple vs. OpenAI: Trade Secret Battle Goes Public

The legal battle between Apple and OpenAI has become public and personal this week. OpenAI published a blog post titled “Apple is getting this wrong,” sharing private messages and emails to counter Apple’s trade-secrets lawsuit. On the same day, Apple escalated its actions in court. Apple sued in July, claiming OpenAI profited from secrets taken by former Apple staff. OpenAI's post called the suit "careless, aggressive and oddly personal," and denied the core accusation. OpenAI stated it does not have, nor wants, any of Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI highlighted what it calls a mistake by Apple. Apple had stated it contacted OpenAI in February without a reply. OpenAI says Apple's outside lawyer accidentally emailed its general counsel, claiming a phone call that never happened. The lawyer then admitted the message was meant for a different former Apple employee, surnamed Wang. OpenAI suggested this was Apple "confusing two Asian last names." The exchanges also show an Apple worker joking about logging a departure. OpenAI blames Apple's own housekeeping, arguing that departing staff retain "residual access" because Apple fails to cut them off. Apple has also accused OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, Tang Tan, of soliciting secrets. OpenAI says Tan has always instructed.