At Apple, our teams are constantly developing breakthrough technologies to create the best products and services in the world, and protecting their work and intellectual property is something we take very seriously. Recently, significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple\u2019s secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products. We will always defend our teams\u2019 hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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OpenAI\u2019s Drew Pusateri tells The Verge<\/em> that \u201cWe have no interest in other companies\u2019 trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.\u201d Apple didn\u2019t immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Liu is accused of accessing Apple\u2019s systems after leaving the company and downloading information, including \u201cdozens of Apple\u2019s confidential hardware-related files, including voluminous, detailed information about unreleased products, engineering presentations, technical specifications, and proprietary project data.\u201d He is also said to have instructed a former Apple colleague on how to copy confidential Apple files and \u201cavoid trouble\u201d with the company\u2019s security team ahead of her joining OpenAI. Liu allegedly told her they should communicate over Line Messenger to avoid being detected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cMr. Liu\u2019s material breaches of his contract are equally clear and deliberate: he accessed, copied, and directed the disclosure of Apple Confidential Information after his employment ended, in direct violation of his post-termination obligations,\u201d Apple says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is a systematic effort to acquire, retain, and use Apple\u2019s trade secrets to help OpenAI\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Apple alleges that Tan has been \u201cmethodically using Apple\u2019s confidential information to benefit OpenAI,\u201d including emailing information to himself about Apple suppliers before leaving the company and asking for confidential Apple information when interviewing Apple employees for OpenAI jobs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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OpenAI has also told Apple staffers to bring things like \u201cCAD\/design artifacts\u201d and \u201cprototypes\u201d to interviews, according to the suit. \u201cThis is a systematic effort to acquire, retain, and use Apple\u2019s trade secrets to help OpenAI try to replicate the secret technologies, business processes, and supply chain innovations that took Apple decades to build in its consumer hardware business,\u201d Apple says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Apple alleges that OpenAI has also been \u201ctargeting Apple\u2019s prized partner network and supply chain directly,\u201d including having an Apple partner, which works with Apple on industrial design and metal-finishing techniques, \u201cperform Apple\u2019s proprietary, trade secret processes for OpenAI\u2019s benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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More than 400 former Apple staffers now work at OpenAI, Apple claims. The company accuses OpenAI of advising Apple staffers that are departing to let OpenAI know if Apple personnel \u201cask you to sign anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Apple says it reached out to OpenAI in February to raise its concerns and ask OpenAI to say what it was doing to look into the problem. \u201cOpenAI never responded,\u201d according to Apple.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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OpenAI\u2019s first hardware product is expected to arrive next year. In the lawsuit, Apple casts doubt on OpenAI\u2019s ability to ship \u2014 at least without relying on Apple\u2019s work. \u201cOpenAI\u2019s nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations,\u201d the lawsuit says, \u201crotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Update, July 10th<\/strong>: Added statement from OpenAI.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFollow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n