OpenAI Publishes Apple Employee Messages in Trade-Secret Dispute

OpenAI on Monday published a batch of iMessages, emails and texts from Apple employees in a blog post to rebut Apple’s trade-secrets lawsuit. The company said the records show Apple staff sought help from a former Apple engineer after he left and that Apple mixed up employees with similar names and misstated communications between counsel and OpenAI.

Apple filed the lawsuit in July, naming former Apple engineer Chang Liu, former Apple design executive Tang Tan and io Products. The complaint alleges Liu kept an Apple laptop after leaving, exploited an authentication bug to access internal systems and downloaded confidential engineering documents. The filing also contends Tang used confidential Apple information to benefit OpenAI’s hardware efforts and says Apple’s recruiting practices encouraged candidates to bring sensitive materials.

OpenAI posted iMessage exchanges it says were sent after Liu left Apple in January. The messages include requests from Apple employees for help locating files, transferring documents and answering technical questions. OpenAI said those exchanges indicate Apple staff continued to rely on Liu and that any remaining access was a result of Apple’s offboarding process rather than deliberate misconduct.

The company contested Apple’s description of Tang, saying the former executive was repeatedly told not to bring or use confidential materials. OpenAI disputed Apple’s claim that the iPhone maker’s outside counsel had spoken with OpenAI’s general counsel, Che Chang, before the complaint was filed.

OpenAI criticized Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction as unnecessary and based on false information. In its blog, OpenAI wrote, “Apple is one of the greatest companies of all time, and built a reputation for obsessing over the smallest details. This careless, aggressive and oddly personal lawsuit sadly doesn’t live up to that reputation.” The company added that it does not have, nor wants, Apple trade secrets.

Apple’s complaint seeks to bar OpenAI from using the designs it calls misappropriated and to hold the named individuals and companies liable for theft and misuse of confidential materials. A judge’s decision on any preliminary injunction could limit OpenAI’s hardware activities while the lawsuit proceeds.