OpenAI Consents to Limit Use of Alleged Apple Trade Secrets Amid Injunction Hearing
During a court hearing, OpenAI agreed not to use trade secrets claimed by Apple and to collect forensic images from certain employees, while a judge indicated a likely preliminary injunction.
OpenAI filed a motion in the trade-secret lawsuit brought by Apple, which alleges that a former employee who returned to Apple took more than 100 confidential files related to Apple’s unreleased hardware. At a hearing, Judge Edward Davila said he was "highly likely" to grant Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction that would bar OpenAI from accessing, using, or disclosing the disputed information.
In response, OpenAI voluntarily agreed not to use the trade secrets that Apple claims were stolen and pledged to create forensic images of devices belonging to 14 employees who might possess Apple’s confidential data. The judge will enforce the agreement and could impose sanctions if OpenAI fails to comply.
Apple sought expedited discovery, including early access to internal documents and forensic evidence, and many of those requests were granted. However, the judge pushed back on Apple’s broader request to inspect every device and repository, describing it as a "huge ask." Apple’s attorney, John M. Desmarais, said the company would limit inspections to a small group of former employees, noting that OpenAI has "a few bad apples and know who they are."