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OpenAI Told to Hand Over Hiring Records in Apple Secrets Case

Judge Sets Tight Deadline for OpenAI in Apple Trade Secret Suit

A US court has ordered OpenAI to produce hiring records and interview materials in the trade secret lawsuit filed by Apple, setting a strict timetable for the AI company to comply.

What OpenAI Must Hand Over

Under the order, OpenAI has five days to submit documents it has already collected and another fourteen days to deliver the remaining requested materials. The discovery covers interview documents tied to former Apple employees now working in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics departments — including interview checklists, written explanations, technical presentation slides, and LINE messaging records.

The court also approved discovery requests for three OpenAI employees: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan.

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The Allegations at the Heart of the Case

Apple has accused former employees of using company laptops to download confidential materials, including unpublished technical specifications and proprietary project data. The dispute lands as OpenAI pushes deeper into consumer hardware — devices that could one day compete with the smartphone.

At its core, the case is about where the line falls between recruiting talent and taking secrets. How the court draws that line could affect not just these two companies but the broader flow of engineers across the AI industry and the safeguards firms use to protect their technology.

Key Points

  • Court-ordered deadlines: OpenAI must submit collected documents within five days and the rest within fourteen days.
  • Scope of discovery: Interview materials for former Apple employees in OpenAI's consumer hardware and robotics teams, including checklists, slides, and LINE records.
  • Named employees: Liu Chang, Peng Ailisa, and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yaotan are covered by the order.
  • Apple's claim: Former employees downloaded confidential technical specs and project data onto company laptops.
  • Industry stakes: The ruling could set a precedent for talent mobility and trade secret protection across the AI sector.