OpenAI asserts that the trade secrets controversy is entirely Apple’s fault
OpenAI denied Apple’s charges of stealing trade secrets, claiming the iPhone manufacturer was unable to provide evidence that its former workers had stolen private data.
«This dispute is a problem created by Apple itself, which is now trying to blame others,» OpenAI wrote in a late-Monday submission to the San Jose, California, U.S. District Court.
In July, just as the maker of ChatGPT was about to reach the consumer device market. Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its former employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu. Alleging that they had stolen trade secrets pertaining to hardware design, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. OpenAI denied Apple’s charges of stealing trade secrets, claiming the iPhone manufacturer was unable to provide evidence that its former workers had stolen private data.
Sam Altman maintains Apple lawsuit
The AI lab, led by CEO Sam Altman, maintains that Apple is using the lawsuit to stifle a potential competitor and discourage its employees from leaving. OpenAI hired approximately 400 Apple employees for its hardware initiative, according to court documents filed by both companies.
California law allows employees to freely move from one competitor to another, OpenAI noted.
The lawsuit marked a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two companies. Which just two years ago had formed an alliance aimed at expanding the reach of ChatGPT and helping Apple solidify its position in the AI field. However, the relationship deteriorated rapidly as competition in the AI sector intensified.
In its original lawsuit, Apple argued that OpenAI’s hiring of Apple employees was part of the AI lab’s strategy to learn a competitor’s secrets. Apple claimed that both Tan and Liu accessed internal company files after leaving their positions.
