Apple is aggressively expanding its legal offensive against OpenAI over the alleged theft of proprietary hardware designs. According to a new report, Apple has sent formal evidence preservation letters to roughly 40 former employees who jumped ship to OpenAI. The formal notices require the workers to freeze and preserve all communications, electronic files and device data that might be relevant to the ongoing corporate dispute, suggesting Apple’s investigation goes far deeper than its initial court filing suggested.
The tip of the iceberg
The latest information comes from the Financial Times. This aggressive legal maneuver follows a massive lawsuit Apple filed last week against OpenAI. The iPhone maker alleges a highly coordinated campaign to raid its talent pool and extract confidential trade secrets regarding consumer hardware engineering and manufacturing processes. According to Apple’s legal team, more than 400 former employees now work at OpenAI, and the tech giant openly states in the complaint that the misconduct uncovered so far is likely just the “tip of the iceberg.”
The core of the initial lawsuit specifically targets two high-profile defectors: Tang Tan, OpenAI’s current Chief Hardware Officer and a 24-year Apple veteran who previously led product design, alongside Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer now working on OpenAI’s hardware team.
Apple accuses Tan of actively recruiting its staff and even encouraging prospective hires to study confidential corporate materials before their job interviews. The lawsuit further alleges that OpenAI held secretive “show and tell” sessions where incoming engineers allegedly showcased stolen Apple prototypes and design layouts to speed up OpenAI’s internal tech development.
OpenAI pushes back
The preservation-targeted letters serve a dual purpose (via Mashable). First, they prepare the ground for extensive legal discovery requests as the trial approaches. Additionally, they put remaining defectors on notice that Apple is watching their output closely. The Cupertino giant is currently seeking unspecified financial damages and an immediate court injunction to completely block OpenAI from using any proprietary Apple information while developing its unannounced consumer AI hardware devices.
OpenAI publicly addressed the heavy allegations for the first time this week. In an official statement, the artificial intelligence company firmly denied the claims. The firm stated it is entirely unaware of any evidence showing the complaint has merit. OpenAI defended its hiring practices by emphasizing its belief in fair market competition. They state that professionals should retain the complete freedom to work wherever they choose.
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