Apple Wins Access to OpenAI Hiring Records in Trade-Secrets Case
A judge granted targeted early discovery into interviews with former Apple employees but declined several broader requests for OpenAI hardware records.
A narrower order than Apple sought
A federal judge has ordered OpenAI to give Apple expedited access to certain hiring and interview records in Apple’s trade-secrets lawsuit, TechCrunch reported on October 13. The materials concern former Apple employees who interviewed for OpenAI’s consumer hardware and robotics teams. The court set five days for materials OpenAI has already collected and 14 days for other responsive records. It also allowed access to selected private messages and depositions of three former Apple employees now at OpenAI.
Allegations remain untested
Apple alleges that former staff carried confidential information to OpenAI. The judge’s discovery order lets Apple examine specified evidence; it does not find that OpenAI stole trade secrets. According to TechCrunch, the court declined Apple’s broader requests for early access to hardware research and documents about work the employees created at OpenAI, though Apple may seek narrower requests later. The case intersects with interest in OpenAI’s planned consumer hardware, but neither the ruling nor the report confirms a device design or launch date. The new development is the scope and timing of evidence exchange, not a decision on liability.