OpenAI rejected trade secret theft allegations in federal court, claiming Apple’s internal policies and administrative procedures caused any lingering access to confidential files by former employees.
In a filing submitted late Monday in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, OpenAI responded to a legal challenge brought by the iPhone-maker, arguing that Apple failed to substantiate claims that confidential information was stolen.
“This dispute is a mess of Apple’s own making, and it is trying to blame everyone else,” OpenAI stated in the brief, requesting that the court reject the suit.
Apple filed the lawsuit in July, targeting OpenAI alongside former Apple employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu. The complaint accused the individuals of taking proprietary information regarding hardware design, manufacturing processes, and supply-chain operations as the ChatGPT-creator expands into consumer devices.
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OpenAI noted in court filings that it has hired approximately 400 former Apple employees for its hardware department.
Addressing the presence of company records, OpenAI argued that Apple actively encourages staff members to use personal iCloud accounts for daily work duties.
The filing stated that this practice creates difficulty in separating personal and corporate data when individuals resign.
OpenAI added that Apple’s standard policy of immediately escorting departing staff off company premises leaves employees insufficient time to return devices, hand over responsibilities, or complete data transfers.
In the court filing, Liu stated that any access to internal Apple materials following his departure occurred when former colleagues contacted him for assistance on previous projects.
Tan, a 24-year veteran at Apple, stated that he returned all company prototypes before leaving and retained only non-confidential materials, including a standard departure checklist.
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OpenAI asserted that California law explicitly permits workers to transition freely between rival companies.
The AI firm claims that the legal action is an attempt by Apple to slow potential market competition and discourage staff departures.
The litigation marks a shift in relations between the two technology companies considering how two years ago, Apple and OpenAI established a corporate partnership aimed at integrating ChatGPT capabilities directly into Apple operating systems.
However, as OpenAI pursues independent hardware development, the commercial relationship has given way to legal friction.
In recent filings, Apple requested expedited discovery, alleging that forensic reviews of hardware used by former engineers revealed unauthorized downloads of technical schematics. The legal proceedings remain ongoing in California federal court.