Apple filed for emergency court supervision of OpenAI's operations. The company wants a judge to place the AI lab under forensic oversight, meaning independent investigators could dig through its internal systems and communications.
The request came alongside nine sworn declarations. Apple argues that OpenAI's alleged theft of stolen hardware secrets causes ongoing harm every day, justifying the rare legal move. Getting a preliminary injunction at this stage signals how seriously Apple treats the alleged breach. The company is essentially asking a court to step in before the full case even concludes.
The dispute started in July when Apple accused former employees of leaking unreleased hardware plans to OpenAI. The ChatGPT maker has denied any involvement. But the stakes run deeper than a simple trade secret case. Apple's complaint also targets io Products, the hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. OpenAI acquired io Products for $6.5 billion earlier this year, which is where Apple's real concern lies. The company believes its proprietary hardware knowledge is now flowing directly into a competitor's AI ambitions.
OpenAI fired back with its own evidence. The company published chat logs showing Apple employees repeatedly contacted engineer Chang Liu weeks after he moved to OpenAI, asking him to fix internal technical problems. OpenAI's argument: Apple failed to manage its own access controls when the employee left, rather than losing secrets to a rival.
Elon Musk used the filing to renew his criticism of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Musk declared the company "can't" be trusted, though his own legal battles with OpenAI have stalled. A jury dismissed his lawsuit in May, ruling he filed too late. An earlier narrowed OpenAI suit also collapsed on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
This article covers legal developments and business news, not investment advice or financial recommendations.
