{"slug": "apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case", "title": "Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case", "summary": "Apple Inc. on Monday asked a US judge for a preliminary injunction barring two former employees and OpenAI from accessing, acquiring, using or disclosing alleged confidential information in its trade secrets case, filed in July in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Apple alleges the two former employees, Liu Chang and Tan Tang Yew, misappropriated trade secrets to benefit OpenAI's foray into consumer hardware, and also sought expedited discovery and depositions. OpenAI responded that the request is based on false information and unnecessary, stating it does not have or want Apple's trade secrets.", "body_md": "# Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case\n\nApple alleges misappropriation of its trade secrets to benefit OpenAI’s foray into consumer hardware\n\nAPPLE on Monday (Aug 3) asked a US judge for a preliminary injunction barring two former employees and OpenAI from accessing, acquiring, using or disclosing alleged confidential information as it moves ahead with its trade secrets case.\n\nIn July, [Apple sued OpenAI and the two former employees,](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/apple-sues-openai-trade-secret-theft-pivotal-case) both now working for OpenAI, alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets to benefit the ChatGPT-owner’s foray into consumer hardware, a dramatic escalation of already simmering tension between the two companies.\n\nThe iPhone maker also filed a concurrent motion on Monday seeking expedited discovery, including production of documents relating to the defendants’ alleged access of Apple’s proprietary and trade secret information.\n\nIt asked the judge to order the two former Apple employees named in the lawsuit, Liu Chang and Tan Tang Yew, to sit for depositions, along with OpenAI employee Peng Yu-Ting and an unnamed OpenAI employee who previously worked at Apple.\n\nLiu is a former Apple senior system electrical engineer while Tan is Apple’s former vice-president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch.\n\nApple also sought depositions from corporate representatives of OpenAI and io Products, which is OpenAI’s commercial arm and is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.\n\n“Apple will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction,” it said in a filing.\n\n“Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction is both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets,” OpenAI said in a blogpost late on Monday.\n\nApple’s lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, comes after [OpenAI successfully fended off a legal challenge from Elon Musk’s xAI.](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/elon-musk-loses-openai-court-battle-5-takeaways-blockbuster-trial)\n\nThe lawsuit sets up a battle over the control of future AI devices that may not use traditional apps or operating systems – devices which, if successful, would direct consumer attention away from Apple’s best-selling iPhone.\n\nAnalysts believe OpenAI is working on a phone or other device of its own. REUTERS\n\nDecoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.\n\nShare with us your feedback on BT's products and services\n\n[TRENDING NOW](/pulse?ref=trending-now)\n\nUOB CEO’s youngest child Grant Wee turns burnout into a wellness business\n\nTemasek Financial prices S$750 million 10-year Singapore dollar bond at 2.65% yield per annum\n\nAnalysts upbeat on ‘New Keppel’ core operations despite group’s net profit plunge\n\nGrab reports US$252 million in Q2 earnings, raises guidance for 2026", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case", "canonical_source": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-trade-secrets-case", "published_at": "2026-08-04 07:03:44+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-04 07:23:32.013229+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy"], "entities": ["Apple Inc.", "OpenAI", "Liu Chang", "Tan Tang Yew", "Peng Yu-Ting", "io Products", "US District Court for the Northern District of California", "Elon Musk"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apple-seeks-preliminary-injunction-against-openai-in-trade-secrets-case.jsonld"}}