OpenAI recently issued its second official response to Apple’s trade secret theft lawsuit. Compared with previous positions taken by company spokespersons, this latest public statement is extremely vague and stylized, triggering widespread discussion about the sincerity of its response and legal strategy.
Previously, Apple officially filed a lawsuit in court, accusing OpenAI of "poaching" key Apple employees through systematic means with the intention of stealing confidential information from within Apple. Apple explicitly named former employees Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu in the lawsuit, accusing them of participating in the collection of supply chain secrets and failing to return hardware devices containing confidential data, respectively.
According to content disclosed by Bloomberg, OpenAI stated in its latest statement that although the company takes the relevant allegations very seriously, it currently does not have any evidence to show that the lawsuit has a factual basis. OpenAI emphasizes that the company always adheres to the principle of fair competition, respects the freedom of talents to choose careers, and is committed to promoting the research and development of innovative technologies that benefit the world. Outside commentators believe that this statement seems to be generated by AI and lacks substantive refutation of the core accusations of the lawsuit. It is more like a public relations rhetoric than a legal defense.
The background of this legal battle is Apple's attempt to curb OpenAI's ambitions to develop hardware products. It is reported that OpenAI plans to launch its first hardware product in 2027, with the intention of challenging Apple’s position in market competition. According to statistics, OpenAI has poached about 400 employees from Apple through high salaries in recent years. Although talent flow is common in the technology industry, Apple accuses OpenAI of improper means behind its existence, including inducing departing employees to take away undisclosed technical components and confidential supply chain information before joining the company.
Legal experts pointed out that if the allegations of conspiracy to steal resources and trade secrets involved in the lawsuit are true, OpenAI will face severe legal challenges, which will not only threaten its executives, but may also affect the operational compliance of the entire company. Despite the rising public attention, sources say that OpenAI is still confident in the development progress of its existing products and believes that the lawsuit will not have a substantial impact on its short-term product delivery.
The legal battle is not the only challenge for OpenAI. Faced with high R&D expenditures in the next few years, the company may face the risk of cash flow drying up if it cannot obtain a large-scale capital injection before 2028. The case is currently in its early stages, and the legal tug-of-war involving industry giants is widely expected to last several years.