The tech companies OpenAI and Apple are fighting a messy legal battle over stolen hardware files. Now, the artificial intelligence firm is asking a federal judge to throw out fresh proof submitted by the smartphone maker. The legal team defending the startup claims the iPhone creator waited too long to present massive documents and new expert opinions, making the process unfair as the major lawsuit moves forward in court.
The defense asks the judge to toss the late files
The dispute started when the tech giant accused two former employees of taking confidential hardware files. It claims these engineers brought those secrets to the new AI startup to help build consumer hardware. To protect its data, the phone maker asked the court to block the startup from using any of the disputed information.
Recently, the hardware company filed a reply brief to support its case. However, it included 126 pages of new expert statements and 13 new exhibits. The defense argues this move breaks the rules. It says the hardware brand should have shared this material in its very first filing, rather than sneaking it in at the last minute.
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The startup claims it has no fair chance to respond
The startup is upset that the latest filing includes a brand new expert witness and fresh opinions from others. Lawyers for the defense argue that these additions go way beyond the original claims. Because the new documents arrived in a reply brief, the defense team feels it has no real way to defend against the fresh claims before the court makes a decision.
Now, the startup wants the court to strike two specific expert declarations from the record. It also wants the judge to ignore any other late material. If the judge decides to keep the new documents, the defense hopes the court will at least look at a new statement from one of the accused engineers, which explains his side of the story.
This fight shows just how fierce the legal battle has become between the two tech brands. The court now has to decide what evidence counts before ruling on the main request to block the data usage. The final decision on these documents will shape the next phase of the entire trial.
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