In an open letter, OpenAI publicly rebutted Apple’s trade-secret lawsuit, opening with “Apple is one of the greatest companies of all time” before defending itself. Apple filed suit against OpenAI in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on July 10, naming OpenAI Foundation, OpenAI Group PBC, io Products, Chang Liu (former senior systems electrical engineer), and Tang Yew Tan (former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch, now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer). Apple alleges breach of intellectual property agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, and has filed preservation orders. Apple’s complaint claims Tan directed job candidates still at Apple to bring “actual parts” to interviews for “show and tell” sessions, distributed an internal Apple document describing departure security protocols to new hires, and that Liu failed to return an Apple laptop and used it to download confidential technical documents. OpenAI argues the lawsuit is based on factual errors, poor communication, and misleading claims, saying Apple mistakenly contacted the wrong OpenAI lawyer, falsely claimed a phone call had occurred, and acknowledged both mistakes. OpenAI contends Liu was responding to requests from Apple colleagues for help locating files, that Tan instructed staff not to seek competitors’ confidential information, that it neither possesses nor wants Apple’s trade secrets, and that Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction is unnecessary. Apple says it sent a warning letter in February with no response.