OpenAI argues Apple’s security lapses weaken trade secrets case in court filing

OpenAI has filed a motion to dismiss Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit, arguing that Apple’s internal security practices and offboarding procedures undermine its claims that allegedly stolen information qualifies as legally protected trade secrets.

In newly filed court exhibits, OpenAI points to Apple’s allowance of employees using personal iCloud accounts for work and its failure to revoke access after they left the company. The exhibits include text message records showing an Apple manager remained logged into the personal iCloud account of former Apple engineer Chang Liu after his departure, even requesting his assistance with technical questions about Apple projects.

OpenAI also alleges that Apple omitted the consequences of its own information-management practices from its original complaint, arguing that the company failed to secure its systems during employee departures, creating confusion and unwanted access issues that Apple now characterizes as theft.

The AI company further contends that Apple has not specified which trade secrets or confidential components were allegedly stolen, instead referring to them as generic categories such as component manufacturing, product testing, vendor and supplier relationships, and distribution channels.

OpenAI’s filing posits that Apple is using the lawsuit to slow down its competitor’s innovation in AI-powered hardware rather than focusing on protecting its own trade secrets. The motion states, 'OpenAI has no use, need or desire for Apple’s trade secrets,' and argues that Apple is attempting to compensate for shortcomings in talent retention and AI integration through the litigation.