OpenAI: No Evidence Apple's Trade Secret Complaint Has Merit

[MacRumors]

OpenAI says it is "not aware" of any evidence that Apple's allegations of trade secret theft have merit in a statement provided to Bloomberg.

While we take these allegations seriously, we're not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit. We believe in fair competition and allowing people the freedom to work wherever they choose, and we're focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.

Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday, accusing the company of intellectual property theft. Apple said OpenAI employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu schemed to steal confidential Apple information to further hardware development at OpenAI. Tan is OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer and a 24-year Apple veteran who led product design, while Liu is on the hardware team at OpenAI after working as a senior system electrical engineer at Apple.

Tan and Liu allegedly asked Apple employees interviewing at OpenAI to come prepared with details on unreleased devices, components, manufacturing processes, and vendor relationships. Liu is also accused of keeping an Apple-issued laptop and exploiting an authentication bug to view confidential documents while working at OpenAI. From the lawsuit:

This is the tip of the iceberg. Apple lacks visibility into what's been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI, where such misconduct is normalized and exemplified by leadership. This much is clear, however: at every level, from members of its Technical Staff to its Chief Hardware Officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI has been stealing Apple's trade secrets and confidential information. As a natural result, OpenAI's nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.

When Apple first filed the suit, OpenAI gave a dismissive response. "We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets," said OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri. "We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."

OpenAI's new statement about employee mobility hints at how it will frame the case publicly. In the lawsuit, Apple said more than 400 Apple employees have migrated to OpenAI, so OpenAI can point to its hiring of former Apple employees as motivation for Apple's lawsuit.

Apple is aiming for a jury trial, and is hoping to uncover more evidence through discovery. Apple has requested an injunction requiring OpenAI to cease using any Apple information during the development of OpenAI's AI hardware device. Apple is also seeking damages and suing Tan and Liu for breach of contract for violating their employment agreements.

Article Link: OpenAI: No Evidence Apple's Trade Secret Complaint Has Merit

 

[robprins]

Whatever OpenAI! - Sam Altman reeks of deception and bull so yeah I hope Apple hammers them into the ground on this.

 

[marblesbarkley]

uh…


…sounds like there is a lot of literal evidence

 

[Le_Chiffre]

“not aware” 😂

So open ai are guilty and Apple has the receipts. 🤣

 

[jarman92]

OpenAI’s first statement was a bizarre non-denial, and this second statement is an equally bizarre non-denial that’s been lawyered to hell and back. You “aren’t aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit”? Wtf? Are the allegations true or not?!

 

[turbineseaplane]

"OpenAI says it is "not aware" of any evidence"

Sounds like they asked ChatGPT about it.

 

[963852741]

I've read through the documents and if it's even 1/10 true Altman is ****ed.

 

[boswald]

OpenAI:"We already told you we didn't do anything. Isn't once enough?"

I can't wait to see this play out.

 

[STOCK411]

sure thing sam altman..... tell that to the judge... Given your company has a track record for this type of things......

 

[MeasterHD]

It's like saying "I'm dumb but not stupid"

Thanks for clarification OpenAI

 

[MacLawyer]

Whatever OpenAI! - Sam Altman reeks of deception and bull so yeah I hope Apple hammers them into the ground on this.

"We're not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit." A reply crafted by lawyers who are tiptoeing around a bad situation.

 

[963852741]

It's like saying "I'm dumb but not stupid"

Thanks for clarification OpenAI

We don't know if it's true, but if a guy exits Apple and then takes work laptop with him and then accesses Apple private network after he no longer is employed there? Not good.

 

[ThomasJL]

Why would anyone trust that grifter Scam Altman?

Well, actually, many Tim Cook supporters do trust Scam Altman, but only when Altman is not doing anything to harm Apple. Those Cook supporters are supporters of Silicon Valley billionaire CEOs in general, and make posts to try to justify those CEOs’ corporate greed.

 

[no_idea]

Lulz…part of the 12 step program ehh?
First denial, then anger, then acceptance.

Keep drinking that Koolaid OpenAI legal team. 🤣

 

[Momento_Mori]

Will be interesting to see additional evidence Apple has to discovered and presenta to vack it’s claim. It will provide a better timeline of the events in relationship to Apple and OpenAI’s partnership. It seems odd that a company who prides itself on privacy and security would allow an ex-employee to leave with a work computer that potential contains sensitive information and access to its servers. 🤷🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️

 

[Robert.Walter]

If Apple plays their lawsuit right they could end up owning a big chunk of OAI.

 

[Falco McGregor]

OpenAI is clearly nervous about the PR hit from this. Seems like someone at OpenAI control leaked some product plans to Mark Gurman today as damage control, saying its first product is a smart speaker to attempt to distance itself from the alleged trade secret theft.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2077132812935709093

 

[erikkfi]

I doubt any company accused of this ever put out a statement that said "wow, we looked into this and, yeah, we're super guilty."

 

[Skwoodge]

"we're not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit"

 

[MeasterHD]

We don't know if it's true, but if a guy exits Apple and then takes work laptop with him and then accesses Apple private network after he no longer is employed there? Not good.

That’s what I was trying to say. It’s kind of obvious what have happened but in OpenAI case better to play dumb.
My employees have in contracts paragraph about not sharing any internal business models, operations etc after leaving my company.

 

[now i see it]

OpenAI has nothing to lose. They’re already over $100 billion in debt

 

[Yvan256]

I doubt any company accused of this ever put out a statement that said "wow, we looked into this and, yeah, we're super guilty."

Are we the baddies?

 

[Falco McGregor]

"we're not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit"

You should've picked up the phone when Apple called you about it back in February.

 

[MacBirdy]

Boycot Open AI

 

[MacBirdy]

OpenAI is clearly nervous about the PR hit from this. Seems like someone at OpenAI control leaked some product plans to Mark Gurman today as damage control, saying its first product is a smart speaker to attempt to distance itself from the alleged trade secret theft.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2077132812935709093

Of course it doesn't have anything like that on the market, because they are still in development and OpenAI stole Apple's product ideas and designs which are still to be released.