Sam Altman on Apple’s Lawsuit: A Mega Fanboy Weighs In
Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, has described himself as a "mega Apple fanboy" and expressed his sadness regarding Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI. In an interview with journalist Alex Heath, reported by Business Insider, Altman shared his initial reaction to the allegations.
"When I first heard about it, I was like, Man, this sounds egregious. Someone must have done something badly."
Altman emphasized that OpenAI respects intellectual property and does not seek to acquire or exploit others’ innovations. Apple filed suit in July, alleging a "coordinated pattern of misconduct" involving two former employees who allegedly retained confidential information and solicited current Apple staff about unannounced products.
OpenAI has moved to have the case dismissed, arguing that California’s laws void non-compete agreements, rendering post-hiring legal action unnecessary. Altman’s lawyers are currently challenging the lawsuit on these grounds.
Additionally, Apple has requested a court injunction preventing OpenAI from accessing its trade secrets. OpenAI’s response highlights potential harm to their hardware business if such an injunction is granted.
The location of the case—California—significantly impacts its outcome due to its unique approach to non-compete agreements. While German law enforces post-contractual non-competes with compensation, California requires employers to prove theft after the fact, making this legal battle particularly complex and potentially slowing hardware development.