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Judge orders OpenAI to hand over hiring records in Apple trade secrets case
US District Judge Edward Davila granted Apple expedited access to some OpenAI hiring materials in Apple's trade secrets lawsuit, TechCrunch reported. OpenAI must produce interview records for former Apple staff who applied to its hardware and robotics groups, and three employees will be deposed. Broader requests into OpenAI's hardware research were denied for now.
Key points
- Judge Edward Davila granted Apple expedited access to some OpenAI hiring and interview records.
- Three OpenAI employees, including chief hardware officer Tang Yew Tan, will be deposed.
- Broader requests into OpenAI hardware research were denied, but Apple may refile narrower ones.
What happened: A federal judge has ruled that Apple will get expedited access to OpenAI's hiring materials in the trade secrets lawsuit Apple filed in July 2026, TechCrunch reported on October 13. US District Judge Edward Davila granted part of Apple's request and denied part of it.
The details: OpenAI must turn over interview materials for former Apple employees who applied to its consumer hardware and robotics groups. These may include interview checklists, guides, scripts, technical presentations and records showing interviews referenced Apple technology. Apple also gets private LINE messages between people named in the case, including OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng. The judge approved depositions of Liu, Peng and Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI's chief hardware officer, all former Apple employees. OpenAI has five days to hand over materials already collected and 14 days for the rest.
Background: Apple alleges that former employees used Apple laptops to download confidential material on unannounced technologies, features and products, and that former Apple staff at OpenAI coached others on what information to bring to interviews. OpenAI is developing a consumer hardware device that TechCrunch said could eventually compete with smartphones. The article did not include a statement from OpenAI.
What to watch: The judge denied expedited access to OpenAI's research in areas such as metal finishes and power management, as well as broader discovery into its hardware work. That denial is not final, and Apple can narrow its requests and try again.
Our take
The case could shape how OpenAI's planned consumer hardware develops, a factor for teams betting on its device ecosystem.