Apple Counter-Accuses OpenAI of Procedural Violations in Trade Secret Lawsuit
Apple filed a response in court accusing OpenAI and co-defendants of breaching procedural rules by introducing unauthorized arguments and a new witness statement in their evidentiary objections. This legal counter-strike follows OpenAI's earlier accusation that Apple improperly submitted new expert evidence while seeking a preliminary injunction. The dispute directly impacts Apple's effort to obtain a preliminary injunction aimed at stopping OpenAI from utilizing alleged trade secrets in its AI hardware design. If granted, the court order could significantly hamper OpenAI's hardware product roadmap and development processes. Apple noted that the defendants submitted a 9-page filing that breached the court's 5-page limit for evidentiary objections, while including an unpermitted statement from former employee Chang Liu regarding wiped devices. Oral arguments regarding the preliminary injunction request are scheduled for October 14.
## BACKGROUND
Apple launched the lawsuit against OpenAI, hardware startup io Products, and former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan over alleged trade secret misappropriation. Startup io Products was co-founded by former Apple design executives before being acquired by OpenAI to lead its hardware device development. Apple claims these former employees illegally transferred proprietary hardware technologies and confidential internal files to OpenAI.