IT Home, October 14: A judge has ruled that Apple may swiftly obtain OpenAI’s hiring-related materials in its trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI, filed in July.
Specifically, the court granted Apple access to documents related to interviews with former Apple employees. These candidates applied for positions in OpenAI’s consumer hardware and robotics division, and the hiring process occurred prior to rumors of OpenAI’s first hardware product launch.
The document may contain interview checklists, guidelines, instructions, manuals, interview scripts, technical demonstration materials, and records that substantiate the mention of Apple's technologies or components during the interview discussions.
The court determined that these documents should be prioritized for retrieval and ordered OpenAI to submit the organized materials within five days, with all other materials related to this request due within 14 days.
IT Home noted that this lawsuit arises against the backdrop of OpenAI developing a consumer-grade hardware device. If this AI device later becomes central to users' interactions with their lives, software, and services, it could compete with the iPhone and even the entire smartphone market.
In its complaint, Apple alleges that OpenAI engaged in a series of acts of trade secret misappropriation, including a direct claim that former Apple employees used Apple laptops to download confidential materials containing unpublished technical details, features, and product information, such as technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.
Apple also made several allegations, claiming that a former Apple employee now at OpenAI has advised others planning to leave Apple for OpenAI on what information they can bring to interviews.
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila did not grant Apple’s full request for expedited access to the relevant documents and communication records, but ruled that Apple may obtain interview materials and private messages on the LINE messaging app involving individuals related to the case, including OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng.
The judge also approved out-of-court depositions for Liu Chang, Peng Ailisha, and a third individual, Tang Yew Tan, Chief Hardware Officer at OpenAI, all of whom previously worked at Apple.
However, the judge denied Apple’s request for expedited access to OpenAI’s specific research materials, such as those related to metal surface treatment and power management. The judge also rejected several other broader discovery requests from Apple, including access to OpenAI’s hardware research materials and information regarding the work produced by former Apple employees after joining OpenAI.
However, this rejection is not final; the judge stated that Apple can narrow its application and resubmit it.