Apple Wants to Speed Up Proceedings Against OpenAI

Apple wants to expedite discovery in its lawsuit against OpenAI. The company cites signs of the disappearance of useful traces for judicial analysis, while OpenAI denies any allegations of inappropriate access to Apple’s information and questions its opponent's internal processes.

Apple describes traces of downloads and risks of losing artifacts

Apple claims that an examination of a MacBook revealed the download of a confidential circuit diagram and its use by Chang Liu in work conducted at OpenAI. The company also notes the existence of messages in which Liu mentions that he must first "restore" and then "start using" Apple devices, after the company announced an internal investigation in June. Apple specifies that Liu, along with other members of OpenAI, were "well aware" that Liu still had access to Apple’s third-party cloud storage service. According to Apple, essential judicial elements such as logs, metadata, or usage records are temporary and can be lost, overwritten, or deleted.

A MacBook handed over on August 21 and a request for expedited discovery

OpenAI handed over the MacBook to Apple on August 21, after having held it since the beginning of the lawsuit in July, according to Apple, which criticizes the lack of prior inspection. Apple has since filed a request for expedited discovery, citing concerns about the potential destruction of evidence. The transmitted MacBook contained exchanges mentioning the destruction of types of data related to judicial analysis that Apple claims it needs.

Subject of the dispute and OpenAI's responses

Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets to develop an AI device, targeting three former Apple employees who moved to OpenAI, including Chang Liu, who allegedly kept a company MacBook after leaving the firm. OpenAI responds that the conflict stems from a disorder caused by Apple itself and describes the management of employee departures at Apple as chaotic. OpenAI asserts that there is no evidence that Liu accessed Apple’s information inappropriately or for improper purposes, and claims that Liu has no interest in Apple’s confidential information.