OpenAI accuses former employee of taking secret product files
According to a new court filing, more than a hundred files about an unreleased device were sent to private accounts.
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OpenAI accuses a former employee of sending confidential files about an as-yet-unannounced device to private accounts. The company says the former employee later presented the information to Apple; Apple disputes having had the files.
The allegation appears in a new court filing in the ongoing legal dispute between Apple and OpenAI. According to OpenAI, an employee who later left for Apple sent more than a hundred files about an unreleased product to personal accounts.
The files allegedly contained images of at least one device, technical data, information about suppliers and production materials. OpenAI claims that the employee presented the product to Apple executives months later. The allegations have not been established by a court.
In a letter dated 12 October, Apple said that the two telephone numbers OpenAI identified as recipients did not match the employee’s business number. According to Apple’s lawyers, this suggests that the company did not possess, control or have access to the data in question.
The new allegation is part of a broader trade secrets case. Apple previously sued OpenAI, claiming that former Apple employees took confidential information to OpenAI, while OpenAI has now made a similar allegation against an employee who went to Apple. Both companies are developing products and services that combine artificial intelligence and hardware.
The filings do not establish whether Apple actually used the information, whether the employee breached a contract or exactly which files were sent. Nor has the identity of the person being accused been disclosed. The case does show how sensitive staff moves have become as companies compete for AI hardware, designers and technical expertise.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- OpenAI has made new allegations against a former employee in an ongoing legal case.
- Apple says it did not possess or control the files in question.
- The court has not yet issued a substantive ruling on these allegations.
Left
Arguments Employees should be able to change jobs without companies treating knowledge as private property. At the same time, businesses should set clear limits on copying company data and should not expose employees to unclear confidentiality clauses.
Values Labour mobility, the balance of power and employee protection.
Consequences Overly broad trade secrets claims can hinder innovation and job moves; too little protection can harm research and development.
Centre
Arguments The court should determine, file by file and action by action, what was confidential, who had access and whether information was actually used. Companies need verifiable departure procedures and independent dispute resolution.
Values Evidence, legal certainty and proportionate protection.
Consequences Stricter controls can limit data leaks, but they also increase costs and slow staff changes.
Right
Arguments Companies invest billions in product development and should be able to expect employees and competitors not to take that knowledge with them. Anyone who transfers trade secrets should be liable personally and face serious consequences.
Values Ownership, contractual responsibility and protection of investment.
Consequences Strong protection can encourage investment, but can also lead to aggressive lawsuits between large technology companies.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article attributes all central allegations to OpenAI and reports Apple’s response. Facts about the eventual use of the files and the employee’s identity are not presented as established.
- confirmed OpenAI says that a former employee sent more than a hundred files about an unreleased device to private accounts. — The allegation appears in a court filing and was described by Reuters. source
- confirmed OpenAI says that the employee later presented the product to Apple executives. — This is described in the court filings as a claim by OpenAI. source
- confirmed Apple says that the telephone numbers identified by OpenAI do not match the employee’s business number. — This response is mentioned in the Reuters report. source
- confirmed There has not yet been a judicial finding that the files were stolen or used by Apple. — The sources consulted describe court filings and allegations, not a final judgment. source
Editor's note
The new information comes from a court filing and is therefore attributed as an allegation. Apple has given a different account; there has not yet been a judicial finding concerning the theft or use of the files.Sources
- OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges — Reuters via StreetInsider
- OpenAI says ex-employee sent himself device files, then presented its plans to Apple — The Next Web
- Judge orders OpenAI to turn over hiring records in Apple trade secrets case — TechCrunch
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