Apple Presents New Evidence in Trade-Secret Lawsuit Against OpenAI Former Employees
Apple submitted additional forensic findings to support its July lawsuit alleging that former engineers Chang Liu and Tang Tan stole and used confidential Apple data at OpenAI, and seeks expedited discovery.
Apple filed a motion on Tuesday to present newly obtained forensic evidence in its July lawsuit accusing former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan of stealing trade secrets and using them while working at OpenAI. The company says analysis of an Apple-issued MacBook that Liu retained after leaving revealed that he downloaded a confidential circuit schematic in March, two months after his departure, and used it to run simulations with the electrical-engineering tool LTspice. Apple alleges Liu also instructed an OpenAI colleague to destroy evidence after learning of an internal investigation.
The filing states that Liu employed an AI agent he trained to operate LTspice, describing the process in internal messages. Apple contends that the schematic was later synced from a Mac mini to the MacBook, allowing the company to trace the activity and prompting a request for further investigation of the remaining devices Liu possesses.
Apple is asking the court to grant expedited discovery and to issue an injunction preventing OpenAI from using the alleged trade secrets. OpenAI has moved to dismiss the case, calling the claims meritless, and issued a statement asserting that it does not possess Apple’s confidential information and is focused on developing its own technologies. The matter is scheduled for argument before Judge Edward J. Davila on October 1.