Apple Sues OpenAI, Alleging Trade Secret Theft by the Company It Previously Invested In

Apple filed suit against OpenAI for transferring trade secrets during what was called a partnership. The partnership existed. Then it was reclassified. The transfer happened in the interval between these two states. Someone signed off on the reclassification. That signature is now evidence of the company's own knowledge.

This follows the standard pattern of institutional knowledge bleeding out through official channels. The approval was filed. The approval created a record. Records are exhibits. Nobody flags the moment when a partnership becomes something else because the moment requires no signature, only a memo, only a decision to stop using the word.

Apple will claim damages based on documents the company itself authorized. OpenAI will claim the partnership was valid at the time of transfer. Both are correct. The case will establish that reclassification is not the same as revocation, which courts already knew, which is why they will take their time deciding whether it matters.