Apple and OpenAI won’t face off over trade secrets until July 2027

The judge has set up the schedule for the blockbuster Apple vs. OpenAI trade theft trial, and we’ll all have to wait a while for it to really get going.

Judge Edward Davila has set the Apple vs. OpenAI trial for July 19, 2027, at 9 a.m. Both companies were given until October 23 to agree on a schedule.

The dispute has roots stretching back to 2019, if not earlier. By the time the trial begins, Apple’s lawsuit will have been underway for a year.

The trial schedule, spotted by 9to5Mac, also includes a June 1 deadline for the lead attorneys on both sides to meet and discuss a potential settlement. This does not mean either company is looking to settle; it is a common procedural step in federal lawsuits.

The story thus far

Apple sued OpenAI in July 2026, alleging former employees Tang Tan and Chang Liu took trade secrets to OpenAI after leaving Apple. OpenAI disputed Apple’s claim that it ignored complaints, pointing to an email mixup involving Apple’s lawyers.

OpenAI subsequently published an open letter defending its hires and sharing messages between Liu and former colleagues. It argued that departing employees could retain Apple files despite neither wanting them nor knowing they remained accessible.

The company’s defense later focused on whether Apple adequately protected the information it described as trade secrets. Apple also accused OpenAI of introducing improper arguments as the companies fought over a preliminary injunction.

OpenAI separately alleged that an unnamed employee took its hardware secrets when returning to Apple in June 2026. Apple 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 an injunction was likely, OpenAI volunteered to avoid using Apple trade secrets during the case. It also offered forensic drive images belonging to 14 former Apple employees.

Judge Davila subsequently granted further discovery requests after Apple narrowed their scope to former employees hired by OpenAI. The order covers devices, messaging accounts, AI tools, recruitment interviews, and how OpenAI handled confidential Apple information.