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OpenAI Told to Hand Over Hiring Records in Apple Secrets Case

OpenAI Ordered to Release Hiring Records in Apple Trade Secret Lawsuit

A U.S. judge has ordered OpenAI to hand over hiring records and interview materials in a trade secret lawsuit filed by Apple, according to court documents. The ruling sets a tight timeline: OpenAI must submit the initial batch of documents within five days and the remaining materials within fourteen days.

What the Court Wants

The discovery request covers interview documents tied to former Apple employees who now work in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics divisions. That includes interview checklists, explanatory notes, technical presentation slides, and even LINE messaging records. The judge also approved requests to depose three OpenAI employees: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan.

Apple's Allegations

Apple claims some former employees used company laptops to download confidential materials, including unpublished technical specifications and proprietary project data, before leaving the company. The lawsuit comes as OpenAI pushes deeper into consumer hardware—a market where Apple has long dominated with the iPhone. The overlap has made the case a flashpoint for how AI companies recruit talent from established tech giants.

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Why It Matters

At its core, the dispute is about where the line sits between competitive hiring and trade secret theft. How the court rules could shape talent mobility across the tech industry and set a precedent for how AI firms handle confidential information when poaching staff from rivals. For OpenAI, the order means more than paperwork—it opens a window into its hiring practices at a time when its hardware ambitions are under close scrutiny.

Key Points

  • Judge's order: OpenAI must produce hiring records and interview materials—initial documents in five days, the rest in fourteen.
  • Scope: Interview checklists, notes, technical slides, and LINE messages related to former Apple employees in OpenAI's hardware and robotics units.
  • Depositions approved: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan.
  • Apple's claim: Ex-employees downloaded confidential files, including unpublished specs, using company laptops.
  • Broader impact: The case could influence talent mobility and trade secret protections across the AI and tech industries.