OpenAI agrees not to use Apple trade secrets in legal battle

OpenAI has voluntarily agreed not to use alleged Apple trade secrets while a legal fight between the two companies moves through court, 9to5Mac and Bloomberg Tech reported. The agreement came during a hearing before Judge Edward Davila. Apple had previously sued OpenAI for allegedly stealing its trade secrets through former employees. [1][6][7]

On Wednesday, OpenAI filed a motion accusing a former employee of taking confidential files before leaving to join Apple, 9to5Mac, The Verge, and MacRumors reported. According to 9to5Mac, The Verge, and Reuters, OpenAI claims the worker took more than 100 confidential files about an unreleased hardware device. [1][3][5][8]

The Verge reported that OpenAI accused the unnamed employee of sending the files to a personal account and presenting them to Apple leadership, including the vice president of operations in Asia. MacRumors added that the worker had originally joined OpenAI from Apple and returned to Apple after six months. Gizmodo noted that the legal fight began when Apple originally sued OpenAI over trade secret theft. [3][5][6]

The dispute centers on unreleased hardware products. Financial Times Tech reported that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is preparing to unveil an artificial intelligence device designed by Sir Jony Ive. Apple is known for actively enforcing its intellectual property interests in civil actions in the United States and other countries. [2][14]