Judge orders OpenAI to hand over hiring records in Apple trade secrets case
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila granted Apple expedited access to OpenAI's interview materials and approved depositions of three former Apple employees now at OpenAI.
What to know
- Judge Davila granted Apple expedited access to OpenAI's hiring materials involving former Apple employees, with 5–14 day production deadlines, and approved depositions for three former Apple employees now at OpenAI: Chang Liu, Tang Yew Tan, and Alyssa Peng.
- The judge rejected Apple's broader requests for expedited access to OpenAI's research and development documents on hardware topics like metal finishes and power management, leaving room for Apple to submit narrower requests.
- Apple's lawsuit alleges former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential material on unannounced products and coached other Apple employees on what information to bring to OpenAI interviews.
- The case centers on OpenAI's development of a consumer hardware device that could potentially compete with the iPhone, raising questions about whether Apple trade secrets were misappropriated in that effort.
Judge Edward Davila U.S. District JudgeApple Plaintiff in trade secrets lawsuitOpenAI Defendant in trade secrets lawsuitChang Liu Former Apple employee, OpenAI employeeTang Yew Tan OpenAI chief hardware officer, former Apple employeeAlyssa Peng OpenAI employee, former Apple employee
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Judge denies Apple's broader discovery requests on hardware R&D
Judge Davila rejected Apple's request for expedited access to OpenAI's research and development documents regarding metal finishes, power management, and battery functionality. He also denied broader discovery requests for access to OpenAI's hardware research or information about what former employees created at OpenAI, leaving the door open for Apple to submit narrower requests.
“However, the judge denied Apple's request to expedite its access to OpenAI's research and development in specific areas, like metal finishes and power management. He also denied several of Apple's broader discovery requests, like access to OpenAI's hardware research or information about what its former employees created while working at OpenAI.”
— TechCrunch -
first by Unite.AI, 6h ago · also TechCrunch, Bloomberg Law
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A federal judge has ordered OpenAI to turn over hiring-related records, including interview materials involving former Apple employees, in Apple's trade… #AI #Apple #OpenAI #LegalTech
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A judge granted Apple early discovery in its trade secrets suit against OpenAI: 14 days for OpenAI's files on interviewing Apple candidates, and three depositions. Wider requests: denied or deferred. #AI
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background
Judge approves depositions for three OpenAI executives, all former Apple employees — Judge Davila authorized Apple to depose Chang Liu, Tang Yew Tan (OpenAI's chief hardware officer), and Alyssa Peng, along with corporate representatives from OpenAI and io Products. All three deponents are former Apple employees.
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background
Judge Davila grants Apple expedited access to OpenAI hiring materials — U.S. District Judge Edward Davila ruled that Apple can access OpenAI's interview materials involving former Apple employees who applied for roles in consumer hardware and robotics, including interview checklists, guides, scripts, and technical presentations. The court set a 5-day deadline for materials OpenAI has already collected and 14 days for other materials.
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background
Apple files trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI and former employees — Apple filed suit against OpenAI, former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, and io Products, alleging a pattern of theft including use of Apple laptops to download confidential material about unannounced technologies and improper recruitment of Apple employees.