The judge has set the timetable for the successful trial of Apple and OpenAI for commercial theft and we will all have to wait a while before it can really begin.
Judge Edward Davila set the Apple v. OpenAI trial for July 19, 2027 at 9:00 am. Both companies had until October 23 to agree on a schedule.
The dispute has roots that date back to 2019, if not earlier. By the time the trial begins, Apple’s lawsuit will have been ongoing for a year.
The trial program, identified by 9to5Macit also includes a June 1 deadline for lead lawyers from both sides to meet and discuss a potential settlement. That doesn’t mean either company is looking to establish itself; is a common procedural step in federal lawsuits.
The story so far
Apple sued OpenAI in July 2026, alleging that former employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu had brought trade secrets to OpenAI after leaving Apple. OpenAI disputed Apple’s claim that it ignored complaints, pointing to an email error involving Apple’s lawyers.
OpenAI later published an open letter defending its hiring and sharing messages between Liu and former colleagues. It argued that departing employees could keep Apple files despite not wanting them or knowing they would remain accessible.
The company’s defense subsequently focused on whether Apple adequately protected information described as trade secrets. Apple also accused OpenAI of introducing improper arguments as the companies fought over a preliminary injunction.
OpenAI separately claimed that an unnamed employee took its hardware secrets when he returned to Apple in June 2026. Apple has denied those allegations, which linked the information to HomeView despite that product’s development dating back to at least 2023.
After Judge Edward Davila indicated that an injunction was likely, OpenAI volunteered to avoid using Apple’s trade secrets during the case. It also offered images of forensic drives belonging to 14 former Apple employees.
Judge Davila later granted additional discovery requests after Apple narrowed the scope to former employees hired by OpenAI. The order covers devices, messaging accounts, artificial intelligence tools, recruiting interviews and how OpenAI handled confidential Apple information.
