Apple is taking the gloves off against OpenAI, filing a federal lawsuit that accuses the AI firm of engaging in a calculated campaign of corporate theft.
The suit alleges that OpenAI, along with its subsidiary io Products—founded by former Apple executive Jony Ive—has systematically pillaged Apple’s proprietary manufacturing techniques, unreleased product plans, and sensitive internal data.
The core of Apple’s complaint centers on former long-time employees, including former VP of design Tang Yew Tan and senior engineer Chang Liu, who allegedly funneled confidential information to their new employer.
According to the filing, the rot goes deep: Apple claims OpenAI interviewers have brazenly pressured prospective hires to bring 'actual parts' from Apple as 'props' for interviews. This isn't just a dispute over talent; it is an accusation of an enterprise built on stolen intellectual property.
Apple asserts that OpenAI’s upcoming hardware ventures are 'rotten to its core,' resting on a foundation of misappropriated secrets. Despite Apple’s attempts to resolve these concerns privately earlier this year, the company claims it was ignored, leaving the courts as the only path to protect its innovation.
Apple is now seeking an injunction to stop the use of its stolen data and is pursuing monetary damages for what it describes as a clear pattern of illegal conduct.
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