Apple sues OpenAI, accuses ex-employees of stealing trade secrets (9to5mac.com)

Article summary

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of trade secret theft by former Apple employees. The lawsuit claims that these employees, including Chang Liu and Tang Tan, stole confidential information and used it for the benefit of OpenAI. Apple alleges that OpenAI instructed new hires on how to avoid scrutiny when leaving Apple and used confidential Apple hardware information when approaching Apple suppliers. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and damages.

Main themes

• Trade secret theft
• Corporate espionage
• Apple vs OpenAI
• Intellectual property protection
• Silicon Valley culture

What commenters say

• The actions of OpenAI and its employees are appalling and demonstrate a lack of morals in the pursuit of success.
• The incident is a typical example of the cutthroat nature of the tech industry, where companies will do whatever it takes to win.
• The quote 'good artists copy, great artists steal' is often misattributed to Picasso and does not justify the theft of trade secrets.
• Reverse engineering a product or technique is a legitimate way to innovate, but stealing confidential information is not.
• The fact that OpenAI had to trick Apple's suppliers into using a trade-secret metal-finishing technique suggests that they lacked the ability to develop it themselves.
• The incident highlights the need for companies to have robust security measures in place to protect their intellectual property.
• The lawsuit is a classic case of one megacorp suing another for stealing secrets, and it is hard to sympathize with either side.
• The culture of Silicon Valley, where employees often move between companies, can create an environment where trade secret theft can occur.