OpenAI pledges not to use disputed Apple trade secrets amid lawsuit
A former OpenAI employee now at Apple is accused of moving over 100 files to personal accounts. Separately, ex-OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan faces charges for allegedly bugging a conference room.
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What happened
OpenAI alleges that an ex-employee who joined Apple moved more than 100 files tied to an unreleased device into personal accounts before presenting the product to Apple's leadership. At a San Jose federal hearing on Wednesday, OpenAI volunteered not to use the disputed information while the case continues, and a judge said he was highly likely to grant Apple's injunction request. Apple's lawyer told the court it does not need to search the devices of all 400 former employees who moved to OpenAI.
Why it matters
A judge said he was highly likely to grant Apple's requested injunction, and the trade secrets dispute between the two companies is still ongoing.
Timeline
- Oct 15, 2:53 AM ET: OpenAI said an ex-employee had taken device files before returning to Apple.
- Oct 15, 8:00 AM ET: Prosecutors said Alfozan, charged over a recording device at OpenAI, had a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia booked for Oct. 12 via Istanbul.
- Oct 15, 3:57 PM ET: Apple responded to OpenAI's allegations that a former employee took confidential files with him.
- Oct 16, 7:23 AM ET: Apple's lawyer told the federal court in San Jose that it does not need to check the devices of all 400 former employees at OpenAI.
Coverage
- OpenAI alleges former employee took files to Apple in trade secret suit (Reuters via Reuters Connect)
- OpenAI claims ex-employee took 100-plus secret files to Apple (techradar.com)
- Apple lawyer to court in OpenAI theft case: We don’t need to check devices of all 400 former employees who joined ChatGPT-maker, as OpenAI knows who the... (Times of India)
- OpenAI Accuses a Former Employee of Taking More Than 100 Confidential Hardware Files Back to Apple (ghacks.net)
- OpenAI vows not to use trade secrets allegedly taken from Apple (Seattle Times)
- Here’s Apple’s official response to OpenAI’s trade secret theft allegations (9to5mac.com)
- OpenAI Makes a Serious Allegation Involving Apple (TradingView)
- OpenAI claims 100-plus secret files followed ex-employee back to Apple (theregister.com)
- OpenAI swears it won't use the Apple trade secrets it seemingly admits it has (appleinsider.com)
- OpenAI Employee Allegedly Tried to Steal the Company's Intellectual Property (petapixel.com)
- OpenAI says ex-employee took device files before returning to Apple (Ana-Maria Stanciuc)
- OpenAI trains staff to spot espionage in routine encounters
- OpenAI engineer charged over hidden recording in San Francisco office, seeks bail
- FBI arrests former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging executive conference room
- OpenAI accuses former employee of taking files to Apple
- Judge grants Apple early evidence access in OpenAI trade secret case
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