OpenAI published a blog post titled "Apple is getting this wrong" to counter Apple's lawsuit alleging trade secret theft. OpenAI characterized Apple's lawsuit as "careless, aggressive, and oddly personal," stating that they neither possess nor desire any of Apple's trade secrets. They further claim Apple's request for a preliminary injunction is based on false information and is unnecessary, as OpenAI is focused on building innovative products.
OpenAI highlighted Apple's alleged communication errors, stating that Apple's lawyers initially emailed the wrong person and falsely claimed a discussion with OpenAI's General Counsel. OpenAI noted that Apple later conceded these points and indicated they were "resolving any issues," only to file the lawsuit five months later without further contact. OpenAI expressed a willingness to resolve the issues if Apple had approached them before filing the lawsuit.
Regarding specific allegations, OpenAI addressed accusations against former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, now at OpenAI. OpenAI presented messages suggesting Apple employees requested Liu's help locating files after his departure, attributing continued access to Apple's failure to properly manage system access for departing employees. For Tang Yew Tan, a former Apple VP, OpenAI asserted that he consistently instructed his team not to use confidential information from other companies.
