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OpenAI Told to Hand Over Hiring Records in Apple Secrets Case

OpenAI Faces Court Order in Apple Trade Secrets Dispute

A U.S. court has ordered OpenAI to hand over a batch of hiring records and interview materials in a trade secrets lawsuit brought by Apple. The clock is ticking: OpenAI must deliver the first set of documents within five days, with the rest due in fourteen days.

So what exactly is Apple after? The discovery covers interview paperwork tied to former Apple employees who now work in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics divisions. Think interview checklists, written explanations, technical presentation slides—and yes, even LINE instant messaging records. The court also greenlit discovery for three specific OpenAI employees: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan.

Apple's original complaint? It accused former staffers of using company laptops to download confidential materials, including unpublished technical specs and proprietary project data. As OpenAI pushes deeper into consumer hardware—devices that could go head-to-head with smartphones—the case has become a flashpoint over where talent acquisition ends and trade secret theft begins.

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This isn't just a legal skirmish. It's a test of how far AI companies can go when recruiting from rivals, and what safeguards tech giants can realistically enforce. The outcome could ripple through industry talent mobility and reshape technology protection mechanisms for years to come.

Key Points

  • Court deadline: OpenAI must submit initial documents within 5 days, remaining ones within 14 days.
  • Scope of discovery: Interview checklists, technical slides, explanations, and LINE chat logs.
  • Named employees: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan.
  • Apple's claim: Former employees downloaded confidential specs and project data via company laptops.
  • Bigger picture: The case could set new boundaries for talent poaching and trade secret protection in AI hardware.