OpenAI challenges Apple's new evidence in trade secret lawsuit

OpenAI and several co-defendants have filed a formal request with a federal court to strike expert declarations and dismiss new evidence recently introduced by Apple in an ongoing trade secret misappropriation lawsuit.

The legal dispute involves allegations that former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan illicitly accessed or transferred confidential hardware engineering information to benefit OpenAI’s consumer hardware initiatives and Jony Ive’s startup, io Products. Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the defendants from using or disclosing its proprietary information, including power-management and metal-finishing processes.

OpenAI argues that Apple improperly used its reply brief to introduce 126 pages of new expert testimony and 13 exhibits that should have been presented earlier in the proceedings. The defendants contend this tactic denies them a fair opportunity to respond. Specifically, they have asked the court to strike declarations from experts including Daniel Roffman and Dr. Jude Runge, claiming the evidence was introduced late to bolster Apple’s original motion after seeing the defendants' opposition.