Apple's Trade Secrets Suit Against OpenAI Assigned to New Federal Judge

Apple has filed a federal trade‑secrets lawsuit in the Northern District of California alleging that OpenAI, former Apple engineers and the hardware venture io Products misappropriated confidential hardware designs, manufacturing methods and supply‑chain plans. The case was originally assigned to Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi, but Apple declined the magistrate’s jurisdiction, prompting a reassignment to U.S. District Judge Edward Davila, with Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins handling discovery matters. The October 13 case‑management conference was vacated and will be rescheduled; parties must discuss settlement options by September 22 and submit initial disclosures by October 6. Apple has issued preservation notices to roughly 40 OpenAI staff and notes that more than 400 former Apple employees have joined OpenAI. OpenAI denies the allegations, and the litigation is expected to test trade‑secret protections amid growing talent mobility in the tech sector.