OpenAI Moves to Dismiss Apple's Trade Secrets Case, Calling Claims Fundamentally Flawed

OpenAI has formally asked a federal court to strike down Apple's high-profile trade secrets case, arguing that the allegations rest on a foundation of misrepresentations and overstated claims about what constitutes confidential information.

The Core Dispute#

In a motion filed with the court, OpenAI contends that Apple has conflated legitimate employee mobility with corporate espionage. The company argues that the material Apple describes as stolen trade secrets actually amounts to standard product development documentation that Apple failed to protect adequately. OpenAI's legal team also claims Apple has distorted communications between employees, presenting them out of context to support a predetermined narrative.

The Broader Challenge#

Beyond the specific allegations, OpenAI suggests that Apple is attempting to use the courts to address its own competitive struggles. According to the filing, Apple is "using a baseless and pretextual lawsuit" as a substitute for stronger competition in talent recruitment and market innovation. The company emphasizes that it attracts engineers and researchers who choose OpenAI for its cutting-edge work, not because of pilfered Apple secrets.

The dismissal arguments echo themes from a blog post OpenAI published earlier this week, in which the company characterized Apple's legal approach as "careless, aggressive, and oddly personal." In particular, OpenAI defends Chang Liu, a former Apple employee now at OpenAI who is accused of downloading sensitive files after his departure, by portraying him as simply responding to requests from former colleagues seeking assistance.

What Comes Next#

The judge will hear oral arguments on the motion to dismiss on October 1st. In the meantime, Apple has separately requested a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI and the named employees from accessing, using, or sharing the allegedly confidential information while litigation proceeds.