Hajra Naz
A judge has ruled that Apple will get faster access to OpenAI’s hiring materials. This comes in the trade secrets lawsuit Apple filed against OpenAI in July.
What Apple Can Now See
The court will let Apple view documents tied to OpenAI’s interviews with former Apple employees. These candidates applied for roles in OpenAI’s consumer hardware and robotics groups. That hiring came ahead of the rumored launch of OpenAI’s first hardware device.
The documents could include several types of material.
- Interview checklists, guides, instructions, manuals, and scripts
- Technical presentations
- Records showing that interviews referenced Apple technology or components
The Deadlines
The court gave OpenAI five days to hand over materials it has already collected. It gave the company 14 days for any other materials tied to the request. The judge agreed with Apple that these documents should be expedited.
Read More: OpenAI Safety Employee Resigns, Says Company Culture Is Broken
Why the Case Matters
OpenAI is building a consumer hardware device. That device could one day rival the iPhone. It could rival smartphones more broadly. That would happen if an AI device becomes central to how people use software and services. So the stakes go beyond one lawsuit. The case touches a possible shift in how people use technology.
What Apple Alleges
Apple accuses OpenAI of a pattern of theft. Its complaints include direct claims about former employees. Apple says they used Apple laptops to download confidential material. The files held information about unannounced technologies, features, and products. That included technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.
Apple also says former Apple employees now at OpenAI coached others. They told people considering a move what information to bring to their interviews. Apple raised other allegations too.
What the Judge Allowed
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila didn’t approve every request. He did rule that Apple can access the interview materials. He also allowed access to private LINE messages between people named in the case. LINE is a messaging app. The messages include those between OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng.
The judge also approved depositions for three people. They are Liu, Peng, and OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan. All three are former Apple employees.
What the Judge Denied
Some requests didn’t succeed. The judge denied Apple’s request to expedite access to OpenAI’s research and development in specific areas. Examples include metal finishes and power management. He also denied several broader discovery requests. One sought access to OpenAI’s hardware research. Another sought information about what former employees created at OpenAI.
Read More: OpenAI Opens ChatGPT as a Platform Developers Can Build and Sell On
Not a Final Answer
The denial isn’t final. The judge left the door open. Apple can narrow its requests and try again.
Why Discovery Rulings Matter
In lawsuits like this, discovery shapes the outcome. The documents a side can see often decide what it can prove. Hiring materials may show what OpenAI asked candidates during interviews. They may also show whether Apple technology came up.
Both companies will watch the next steps closely. The interview documents arrive first. The depositions come after.
