OpenAI has dramatically escalated its legal fight with Apple by publishing emails, text messages and a detailed rebuttal that it says exposes factual errors at the center of Apple's trade secrets lawsuit, arguing the iPhone maker filed an "aggressive" complaint built on mistaken assumptions.

The unusual public release comes weeks after Apple accused OpenAI and two former Apple executives of misappropriating confidential hardware information as the ChatGPT developer pushes deeper into AI-powered consumer devices following its acquisition of Jony Ive's startup.

In a lengthy blog post published Monday, OpenAI disputed several of Apple's central allegations, saying the company confused two employees with similar surnames, falsely claimed OpenAI ignored attempts to communicate before litigation, and incorrectly stated that Apple's lawyers had spoken with OpenAI General Counsel Che Chang before filing suit.

OpenAI described Apple's complaint as "careless, aggressive and oddly personal," insisting it neither possesses nor wants Apple's trade secrets.

The company also argued that Apple's request for a preliminary injunction—which could restrict OpenAI's activities while the case proceeds—is unnecessary because the alleged confidential information was never used in its hardware development.

Text messages challenge Apple's claims

To support its defense, OpenAI published iMessage conversations between former Apple engineer Chang Liu and Apple employees that continued after Liu left the company.

The conversations show Apple employees asking Liu to locate files, transfer documents and answer technical questions months after his departure. OpenAI argues the exchanges demonstrate that Apple itself continued relying on Liu's access and expertise, contradicting its allegation that he deliberately retained confidential information without authorization.

According to OpenAI, any remaining access resulted from Apple's own offboarding procedures rather than intentional misconduct by Liu.

The company also said former Apple executive Tang Tan was repeatedly instructed not to bring, retain or use confidential information from his previous employer after joining OpenAI.

Apple filed suit against OpenAI in July, accusing the company, former Apple engineer Chang Liu, former Apple design executive Tang Tan and io Products of misappropriating proprietary hardware trade secrets as OpenAI expanded its consumer hardware ambitions.

The lawsuit alleges Liu retained an Apple-issued laptop after leaving the company, exploited an authentication vulnerability to access Apple's internal systems and downloaded confidential engineering documents. Apple further claims Tang leveraged confidential knowledge to benefit OpenAI's hardware efforts and alleges OpenAI's recruitment process encouraged prospective hires to bring sensitive Apple materials.

OpenAI rejects those allegations, arguing Apple has yet to present evidence that any confidential information entered its products or development process.

Legal battle spills into the public spotlight

Trade secret disputes between major technology companies are typically fought inside courtrooms. By releasing Apple's communications publicly, OpenAI has shifted part of the battle into the court of public opinion, seeking to undermine Apple's credibility before the case progresses.

The confrontation also underscores intensifying competition between Silicon Valley's largest AI companies as they race to develop next-generation AI hardware. With Apple attempting to protect years of proprietary engineering work and OpenAI insisting its innovation is independent, the dispute is evolving beyond a conventional trade secrets case into a broader battle over talent, intellectual property and the future of AI devices.