Apple Seeks Injunction to Block OpenAI From Using Alleged Trade Secrets

Apple Inc. has asked a U.S. judge to issue a preliminary injunction against OpenAI, seeking to block the AI company and two of its former employees from using allegedly misappropriated trade secrets. The legal maneuver, filed Monday according to Reuters, marks a significant escalation in a lawsuit that underscores the intense competition in the emerging AI hardware space.

Details of the Court Filing

In the motion filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple argued it would be "irreparably harmed" if the court did not grant the injunction. The request aims to bar OpenAI and two former Apple executives, Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, from accessing or using any confidential information from their time at the iPhone maker.

Alongside the injunction request, Apple filed a motion for expedited discovery. The company is seeking to depose Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tan, a former vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch. Depositions are also sought from another OpenAI employee and corporate representatives from both OpenAI and its commercial arm, io Products, which is also a defendant.

OpenAI's Response

OpenAI swiftly denied the allegations. In a blog post cited by Reuters, the company stated that Apple's request is "both based on false information and completely unnecessary."

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"We do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets," OpenAI said in its public response, directly challenging the basis of Apple's legal action.

Context: The Race for AI Devices

The lawsuit, first filed last month, highlights the high-stakes battle for control over the next generation of consumer technology. Analysts widely believe that OpenAI is developing its own hardware, such as a dedicated AI phone or device, which could directly challenge Apple's dominant iPhone ecosystem.

For investors, this legal conflict is more than a dispute over intellectual property; it represents a strategic defense by Apple against a potential market disruption. The outcome could influence the competitive landscape for future AI-native devices that may operate independently of traditional app stores and operating systems, posing a long-term strategic threat to established players.