Apple has received court approval to access certain hiring documents from OpenAI as part of its trade secrets lawsuit against the AI company. A US judge has ordered OpenAI to share records related to interviews with former Apple employees who applied for jobs in its consumer hardware and robotics teams, according to a TechCrunch report. The ruling comes as OpenAI prepares to enter the consumer hardware market with its first device, which could potentially compete with the iPhone. Apple has accused OpenAI of obtaining confidential company information through former employees.
Under the latest court order, OpenAI must provide documents it has already collected within five days. It has 14 days to submit other materials covered by Apple’s request. These records could include interview guides, checklists, instructions, manuals, scripts and technical presentations, as per the report. Apple will also be allowed to examine records showing interview discussions included references to its technology or components.
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Apple filed the lawsuit against OpenAI in July, accusing the company of a pattern of theft involving its trade secrets. The iPhone maker alleged that some former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential files before leaving the company. These files reportedly contained details about products, features and technologies that had not yet been announced.
Apple also claimed that former employees working at OpenAI advised colleagues who were considering joining the AI company on what information to bring to their interviews.
US District Judge Edward Davila has approved Apple’s request to access the hiring materials. He also allowed Apple to obtain private LINE messages exchanged between people named in the case, including OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng. The judge further approved depositions for Liu, Peng and OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan. All three previously worked at Apple.
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However, the judge rejected some of Apple’s other requests. These included faster access to OpenAI’s research and development work involving areas such as metal finishes and power management. Apple was also denied broader access to OpenAI’s hardware research and information about work its former employees carried out after joining the company.
The judge’s decision does not permanently prevent Apple from seeking these materials. Apple can narrow its requests and submit them again.