Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI and ex-employees in trade secrets case

Aug 3 (Reuters) - Apple asked a U.S. judge for a preliminary injunction barring two former employees and OpenAI from accessing, acquiring, using, or disclosing alleged confidential information as it advances a trade secrets case. Apple last month sued OpenAI and the two former employees, both now at OpenAI, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets to benefit OpenAI's consumer hardware push. On Monday it also sought expedited discovery and depositions of former Apple engineers Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng, an unnamed OpenAI employee who previously worked at Apple, and corporate representatives of OpenAI and io Products, OpenAI's commercial arm named as a defendant. Liu is a former Apple senior system electrical engineer. Tan is Apple's former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple said in a filing it will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction. OpenAI said in a late Monday blog post that the request is based on false information and unnecessary because it does not have or want Apple trade secrets. The suit is in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Reuters reported analysts believe OpenAI is working on a phone or other device of its own.