Apple is intensifying its legal offensive against OpenAI, petitioning the court for "expedited discovery" over concerns that the AI firm is actively destroying evidence. In a filing submitted on Monday, Apple alleges that OpenAI delayed the handover of a MacBook used by a former employee at the center of the trade secrets lawsuit.
The MacBook and Trade Secret Allegations
The lawsuit revolves around three former Apple employees who recently joined OpenAI, including Chang Liu. Apple accuses the ChatGPT creator of stealing trade secrets to develop an AI-powered device. Although OpenAI had the MacBook in its possession since the lawsuit began in July, it only provided the device to Apple on August 21st.
Apple claims that an inspection of the laptop revealed Liu had not only downloaded a confidential Apple circuit schematic but also utilized it during his work at OpenAI. Furthermore, Apple alleges that Liu and others were aware of his continued access to Apple’s third-party cloud storage systems.
OpenAI’s Defense
OpenAI has countered these claims in its own filing, describing the dispute as a "mess of Apple’s own making." The company argues that Apple is blaming others for its own disorganized employee exit processes. OpenAI maintains there is no evidence that Liu accessed Apple information through improper means or for any improper purpose, asserting that Liu has no practical use for Apple's confidential data.
