GoKawiil
Tech News
Nvidia's board has opened an investigation into an affair involving its CEO and an executive suspected of ties to Chinese intelligence. The probe is examining whether confidential company information may have been shared during the relationship.
Judge Edward Davila has issued a formal case management order setting July 19, 2027 as the trial date in Apple's trade secrets lawsuit against two former employees, OpenAI and io Products. The order also lays out a detailed pretrial timeline covering document production, expert discovery and motion deadlines through mid-2027.
Judge Edward Davila has expanded Apple's discovery rights in its trade secrets lawsuit against former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, OpenAI, and io Products. After Apple and the defendants agreed on a narrower definition of 'Apple Originated Information,' the judge granted several previously deferred requests, giving Apple access to records on Liu's use of AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, plus details on devices, accounts, and messaging apps used by the two former employees.
During a hearing, OpenAI voluntarily agreed not to use trade secrets Apple claims were stolen, after Judge Edward Davila signaled he was likely to grant Apple's preliminary injunction request. OpenAI also agreed to collect forensic images from 14 employees' devices that may contain Apple's confidential information, with the judge empowered to enforce compliance.
OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Apple after Apple originally sued the AI company, alleging its trade secrets were stolen via former Apple employees who joined OpenAI. The two companies are now set to face each other in court this week.
OpenAI discovered a USB recording device wrapped in toilet paper and plugged into a TV in a restricted executive conference room where leadership discussed confidential matters. The FBI alleges the device was planted by Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old OpenAI engineer, and CCTV footage shows him later trying to retrieve it. He was arrested and fired on Friday, and faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of unlawful recording charges.
OpenAI filed a new court document alleging a former employee, who had previously worked at Apple before a six-month stint at OpenAI, sent over 100 confidential files about an unreleased OpenAI device to his personal accounts on his last day. The filing claims the files included device images, engineering and manufacturing data, supplier information and finish specifications, and that the employee later briefed Apple's senior leadership on OpenAI's plans. Apple told Reuters it has found no evidence supporting these claims.
OpenAI filed a court document alleging a former employee copied more than 100 files about its product plans to a personal account, then presented them to Apple executives, including the VP of Apple's Asia operations. The files reportedly included images of an unreleased device, supplier and engineering data, and reports on hardware coating and sealing processes. The filing is part of an ongoing legal dispute in which Apple separately accuses OpenAI of stealing its confidential documents and spying on hardware prototypes.
Judge Edward Davila has partially granted Apple's request for expedited discovery in its trade secrets case against former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, OpenAI, and io Products. The order requires defendants to hand over forensic images already collected and documents used to guide interviews of Apple candidates for OpenAI's consumer hardware team, while some broader requests were denied or deferred. Apple alleges the two ex-employees misused confidential Apple product information to aid OpenAI's hardware efforts and improperly extracted details from other Apple staff during interviews.
A federal judge ruled that Apple can obtain expedited access to OpenAI's interview materials for former Apple employees who applied to its consumer hardware and robotics teams. OpenAI must turn over already-collected documents within five days and remaining materials within 14 days. The judge also granted Apple access to private LINE messages between individuals named in the case, though he denied some of Apple's other document requests.
Apple has formally responded to OpenAI's objections in a trade secrets case involving former employees and io Products. The dispute centers on whether OpenAI improperly introduced new arguments and evidence beyond court rules during their reply brief. Apple contends that the defendants used the opportunity to relitigate the case rather than merely object to new evidence, violating procedural restrictions.
Micron has filed a lawsuit against China's YMTC, claiming the company recruited former Micron engineers who then patented inventions closely mirroring work they did at Micron. Micron alleges these employees left citing personal reasons, kept their new roles off LinkedIn, and were bound by confidentiality agreements they broke, and that YMTC later used the resulting patents to accuse Micron of infringement in multiple jurisdictions.