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A judge has ruled that Apple will gain expedited access to OpenAI\u2019s hiring materials in the trade secrets-focused lawsuit the iPhone maker filed<\/a> against OpenAI in July.<\/p>\n Specifically, the court will allow Apple to view documents associated with OpenAI\u2019s interviews with former Apple employees who applied for roles within its consumer hardware and robotics groups ahead of the rumored launch of OpenAI\u2019s first hardware device.<\/p>\n These documents could include interview checklists, guides, instructions, manuals, and scripts, as well as technical presentations and records showing that interview discussions had included references to Apple technology or components.<\/p>\n The court gave OpenAI five days to turn over materials it has already collected and 14 days for any other materials related to this request, agreeing with Apple that these documents should be expedited.<\/p>\n The case comes as OpenAI develops a consumer hardware device that could one day potentially rival the iPhone \u2014 or smartphones more generally \u2014 if the AI device becomes a central part of consumers\u2019 lives and how they engage with software and services. <\/p>\n In its lawsuit, Apple accused<\/a> OpenAI of a pattern of theft, which includes direct complaints about former employees using Apple laptops to download confidential material and files that contained information about unannounced technologies, features, and products, including technical specifications, engineering presentations, and proprietary project data.<\/p>\n Apple also said that former Apple employees at OpenAI coached others considering leaving Apple for OpenAI on what information to bring to their interviews, among other allegations.<\/p>\n U.S. District Judge Edward Davila didn\u2019t greenlight all of Apple\u2019s requests for expedited access to OpenAI documents and messages relevant to the case. But he did rule<\/a> that Apple could access the interview materials, alongside private LINE messages (from a messaging app) between individuals named in the case, including OpenAI employees Chang Liu and Alyssa Peng.<\/p>\n The judge also approved depositions for Liu and Peng, along with a third individual, OpenAI\u2019s chief hardware officer, Tang Yew Tan. All three are former Apple employees.<\/p>\n However, the judge denied Apple\u2019s request to expedite its access to OpenAI\u2019s research and development in specific areas, like metal finishes and power management. He also denied several of Apple\u2019s broader discovery requests, like access to OpenAI\u2019s hardware research or information about what its former employees created while working at OpenAI. <\/p>\n That denial isn\u2019t final, though; the judge left the door open for Apple to narrow its requests and try again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n