Apple
OpenAI’s public rebuttal to Apple’s trade secret suit
The ChatGPT maker takes its defense to a blog post, challenging Apple’s allegations and its legal tactics.
Apple sues over alleged trade secret theft
Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing two former employees — Chang Liu and Tang Tan — of taking confidential information to the ChatGPT creator. The company sought a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI and the pair from using that material. The case rests on claims that trade secrets left Cupertino when the two engineers went to work for OpenAI. Apple’s legal move came after months of quiet, according to OpenAI’s response.
OpenAI answers with a blog post
OpenAI published a post titled "Apple is getting this wrong," arguing the lawsuit is "careless, aggressive and oddly personal." The AI company pointed to Apple’s reputation for obsessing over details, saying the legal filing doesn’t live up to that standard. The post is part of a broader effort to sway public opinion while the case proceeds, a tactic OpenAI has used before.
The February contact that never landed
OpenAI says Apple claimed it reached out in February, but that contact went to the wrong person because Apple’s lawyers mixed up two names. The mix-up meant the initial notice never reached the right individual at OpenAI. Apple later conceded it never actually spoke to OpenAI’s General Counsel, despite earlier claims. OpenAI points to this as evidence of sloppy legal work.
No evidence against Tang Tan, says OpenAI
OpenAI defends Tang Tan by noting that no evidence of misappropriation exists. The company says Tan has always told his team they "do not want, and must not use, any confidential information from other companies." OpenAI sees the accusation as a vague attempt to broaden the case after the original claims weakened. Apple, OpenAI argues, is trying to change its story.
Injunction called false and unnecessary
OpenAI calls the preliminary injunction "based on false information" and unnecessary, since it doesn’t want Apple’s trade secrets. The company says it would have clarified everything if Apple had raised concerns before filing. Instead, OpenAI claims, Apple launched a lawsuit and is now making vague accusations about other former employees. OpenAI says it has offered to work with Apple to resolve the matter.
Apple stays silent, for now
Apple has not responded publicly to OpenAI’s blog post, and the company is historically less inclined to air legal disputes in public. This contrasts with OpenAI’s previous behavior: during Elon Musk’s lawsuit, OpenAI posted two detailed blogs recounting its relationship with Musk and his nonprofit claims. The current silence leaves OpenAI’s narrative unchallenged, but Apple may respond in court rather than on a blog.
Source material: pcgamer.com — this piece is based on that published source material.
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