Judge Grants Apple Expedited Discovery in OpenAI Trade Secrets Case

What happened

The first request covers all forensic images the defendants have collected in connection with the subject matter of Apple’s claims, including images identified in exhibits to the August 31, 2026 and September 11, 2026 declarations of Andrew Crain, or otherwise relied on by Crain. A federal judge on October 13, 2026 granted Apple limited expedited discovery in its trade-secret lawsuit against OpenAI, ordering the defendants to produce forensic device images, materials used to interview Apple job candidates, and private messages between two figures in the dispute. Apple is a software and consumer electronics company based in Cupertino. OpenAI is an artificial intelligence company based in San Francisco.

Discovery the Court Granted Judge Edward J. District Court for the Northern District of California granted in part Apple's motion in Apple Inc.

District Court for the Northern District of California granted in part Apple’s motion in Apple Inc. Liu , the San Jose case naming former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI Foundation and OpenAI Group PBC (a company legally required to pursue a stated public benefit), and io Products LLC.

The defendants must respond to three document requests within 14 days, or within 5 days for materials already collected in the litigation. Also covered are Technical Deep Dive presentations or other technical presentations summarizing or memorializing the content of those interviews with Apple employees, or any reference to Apple technology or parts.