Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has asked a U.S. judge to issue a preliminary injunction preventing two former employees and OpenAI from accessing, using, or disclosing alleged confidential information while its trade secrets lawsuit proceeds.
Apple asked the court to require former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, along with OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng and another former Apple employee now at OpenAI, to testify in depositions as part of its lawsuit over alleged trade secret theft, reported Reuters.
The iPhone maker is seeking depositions from representatives of OpenAI and its commercial arm, IO Products, arguing that it will be “irreparably harmed” unless the court grants a preliminary injunction.
Apple also filed a motion seeking expedited discovery, requesting documents related to the defendants’ alleged access to its proprietary and trade secret information.
Apple filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California shortly after OpenAI defeated a legal challenge brought by Elon Musk‘s xAI.
“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 stated in a blog post.
CNBC commentator Jim Cramer reacted to the report and said, “Apple going for the prelim injunction against OpenAI.. Gloves off.”
Apple going for the prelim injunction against OpenAI.. Gloves off
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) August 4, 2026
AI Hardware Battle Intensifies
In July, Apple sued OpenAI in federal court, alleging the AI company misappropriated its trade secrets to speed up development of consumer devices. The lawsuit marks a major escalation after the companies’ 2024 partnership on ChatGPT integration into the iPhone, which reportedly soured as OpenAI expanded into AI hardware, including its $6.4 billion acquisition of Jony Ive‘s IO Products.
Apple alleges in court filings that OpenAI hardware chief and former Apple executive Tang Tan encouraged job candidates to disclose confidential Apple information during recruitment interviews. Tan has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, OpenAI is developing a screen-free AI smart speaker designed to serve as a home companion. The device would leverage GPT-Live to control smart home devices, play media, answer questions, send messages, and use built-in cameras and sensors to better understand users and their surroundings, though its final features may change during development. Gurman said that Apple has "nothing like" OpenAI’s under-development consumer device in the market yet.
Earlier this year, reports said OpenAI shifted production of its first Jony Ive-designed AI device from Luxshare to Foxconn Technology Group, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd (OTC:HNHAF), to speed up its launch.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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