A federal judge has ordered OpenAI to turn over OpenAI hiring records in the trade secrets lawsuit Apple filed against the AI company in July. The ruling grants Apple expedited access to documents tied to OpenAI’s interviews with former Apple employees who applied for roles in its consumer hardware and robotics groups.
The decision arrives ahead of the rumored launch of OpenAI’s first hardware device. That product could one day rival the iPhone or smartphones more broadly if it becomes a central part of how consumers engage with software and services.
According to the court, Apple can review interview checklists, guides, instructions, manuals, and scripts. Apple can also access technical presentations and records showing whether interview discussions referenced Apple technology or components.
What the Ruling Covers
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila set a clear timeline for producing the OpenAI hiring records. The court gave OpenAI five days to turn over materials it has already collected and 14 days for any other materials related to this request. The judge agreed with Apple that these documents should be expedited.
The case centers on allegations that OpenAI’s hiring practices crossed a legal line. Apple wants to know what former Apple employees discussed during interviews with OpenAI and whether they brought confidential information with them.
What the Judge Denied
Davila did not greenlight all of Apple’s requests for expedited access to OpenAI documents and messages relevant to the case. He denied Apple’s request to expedite its access to OpenAI’s research and development in specific areas, such as metal finishes and power management.
The judge also denied several of Apple’s broader discovery requests. Those included access to OpenAI’s hardware research and information about what its former employees created while working at OpenAI.
That denial is not final. The judge left the door open for Apple to narrow its requests and try again.
Private Messages and Depositions Approved
Beyond the interview materials, the judge ruled that Apple could access private LINE messages between individuals named in the case. Those individuals include OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng.
The court also approved depositions for Liu and Peng, along with a third individual: OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan. All three are former Apple employees.
These depositions could shed light on how OpenAI recruited talent from Apple and what information changed hands during that process. The private messages may reveal conversations about hiring practices, interview preparation, and the movement of employees between the two companies.
Apple’s Allegations Against OpenAI
In its lawsuit, Apple accused OpenAI of a pattern of theft. The iPhone maker pointed to former employees using Apple laptops to download confidential material and files containing information about unannounced technologies, features, and products. Apple said those files included technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.
Apple also alleged that former Apple employees now at OpenAI coached others considering leaving Apple for OpenAI on what information to bring to their interviews. Those allegations form the backbone of Apple’s trade secrets claim.
The lawsuit reflects growing tension between two companies that increasingly compete for talent and market position. Apple has long dominated consumer hardware, while OpenAI has rapidly expanded from AI software into hardware development.
Why This Case Matters
The lawsuit lands at a pivotal moment for OpenAI. The company is developing a consumer hardware device that could reshape how people engage with AI. If that device becomes a daily essential, it could challenge the smartphone’s role as the primary gateway to software and services.
For Apple, the case is about protecting trade secrets tied to products it has not yet announced. The expedited access to OpenAI hiring records suggests the court sees urgency in Apple’s claims, even as it trims the scope of what Apple can demand.
The ruling keeps the discovery process moving while leaving room for both sides to refine their arguments. Apple may return with narrower requests, and OpenAI will need to comply with the current deadlines.
What Happens Next
OpenAI must now produce the required documents within the court’s timeline. The five-day window applies to materials already collected, while the 14-day window covers additional materials related to Apple’s request.
Apple will review the interview materials, private messages, and deposition testimony as it builds its case. The company may also return to the judge with narrower discovery requests after the initial denials.
OpenAI has not publicly commented on the ruling or the specific documents it must produce. The company continues developing its consumer hardware device amid the ongoing litigation.
For now, the case remains focused on whether OpenAI’s hiring practices crossed a legal line and what those interviews with former Apple employees actually contained. The outcome could shape how tech companies handle recruitment from competitors and protect trade secrets in an era of intense talent competition.
