Apple seeks preliminary injunction in Apple OpenAI trade secrets case, asks for expedited discovery
Apple seeks a preliminary injunction in its Apple OpenAI trade secrets case and asks the court for expedited discovery amid claims of wider involvement.
Apple on Tuesday moved to tighten its legal pressure on OpenAI, asking a federal court for a preliminary injunction in the Apple OpenAI trade secrets case and seeking expedited discovery from several current and former employees. The iPhone maker aims to halt development of any device or product that it contends is being built using its confidential technology. The filing expands allegations beyond the two former Apple staff members named in the original complaint, saying additional former employees may have been involved.
Apple asks court to block device development
Apple’s motion for a preliminary injunction seeks to prevent OpenAI and affiliated entities from building products based on what Apple calls proprietary, unannounced technology. The company argues there is immediate risk of irreparable harm if the development continues while the case proceeds. Apple said it needs court-ordered relief to protect design and technical information it says was taken without authorization.
The request frames the injunction as a necessary step to preserve the status quo and limit the spread of sensitive information. Apple also stressed that expedited discovery is crucial to identify the full scope of alleged misappropriation and the individuals who may possess relevant materials.
Targets of expedited discovery and named individuals
In its filing, Apple asked the court to authorize expedited discovery directed at two named defendants — senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan — along with OpenAI, the OpenAI Foundation, and io, the device startup co-founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive. The company contends those parties are central to understanding whether Apple’s technical materials were shared or used in new product development.
Apple’s motion asks the court to allow targeted document and device searches and to compel production of communications that could show coordination or transfer of files. The company said it has reason to believe responsive evidence may be located on devices, accounts, or servers controlled by the named defendants and affiliated organizations.
Allegation that more former Apple staff were involved
Apple said its continued internal investigation has identified as many as 11 additional former Apple employees who may have served as witnesses or otherwise participated in the events underlying the complaint. The filing describes instances where former employees allegedly met with named individuals ahead of interviews and discussed proprietary material tied to unannounced Apple products.
One passage of the filing alleges a former employee took screenshots of confidential Apple documents before interviewing at OpenAI, and another described a meeting in which Apple proprietary information was discussed in advance of an OpenAI interview. Apple also reported that, after the original complaint was filed, several former employees now at OpenAI reached out about returning Apple-issued devices they retained when they left the company, a fact Apple said raised further concerns.
Details Apple provides about the purported misconduct
The complaint includes specific examples the company says support its view that misappropriation extended beyond the two initially named ex-employees. Apple pointed to discussions and document access that it characterizes as inconsistent with normal hiring practices and as evidence of improper handling of confidential materials. Those descriptions are offered as justification for both expedited discovery and the preliminary injunction.
Apple’s filing stops short of detailing every piece of evidence in public filings, but it repeatedly emphasizes the alleged need to prevent dissemination of Apple’s design and engineering work. The company also signaled its intent to pursue further discovery to identify whether any confidential files were uploaded, shared, or otherwise transferred to outside parties or new employers.
OpenAI disputes Apple’s claims and labels motion unnecessary
OpenAI responded publicly to Apple’s latest filing, asserting that the injunction request is based on false information and that the company neither has nor desires Apple’s trade secrets. OpenAI said its focus remains on developing innovative products and that it has no intent to use proprietary Apple technology in its work.
In its response, OpenAI also pointed to mistakes it said Apple made in the early phases of the dispute, including an erroneous outreach that resulted from confusing similar surnames. The AI developer denied allegations that it or its employees sought to retain or exploit Apple confidential information and disputed characterizations of communications between the companies.
Court timeline and potential next steps
Apple’s motion for expedited discovery accompanies the pending injunction request, and both will be considered by the court as the case moves forward. If the judge grants the preliminary injunction, OpenAI and related parties could face immediate restrictions on product work that Apple claims derives from its technology. Conversely, if the court denies the motion, Apple would still proceed with its underlying case but without court-ordered interim restraints.
Discovery rulings in cases of alleged trade-secret theft typically shape the pace and posture of litigation, determining the extent to which internal communications and devices are inspected. Both sides will likely press for rapid court rulings given the commercial stakes and the potential for competitive harm tied to unannounced hardware and software initiatives.
The coming weeks will determine whether Apple’s request for emergency discovery and a preliminary injunction will be granted, and whether the court will allow the litigation to proceed on an expanded factual record reflecting the additional former employees Apple has identified.
