What is 'LOL' access? 3 trade secrets Apple says a former engineer took to OpenAI

On July 10, Apple initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the company has profited from confidential information misappropriated by a former employee. Chang Liu, who previously worked as an iPhone engineer at Apple, is accused of continuing to access the company's internal systems even after his transition to OpenAI. According to the lawsuit, Liu exploited this access to download sensitive information, which Apple asserts includes trade secrets and proprietary data. The term 'LOL access' emerges from Apple's extensive 40-page legal filing, referring to a message Liu reportedly sent upon realizing he could still log into Apple's internal network storage post-employment. His message humorously noted, "LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny." Apple also alleges that Liu failed to return his company-issued MacBook and maintained communication with a former colleague, Alyssa Peng, who allegedly continued to provide him with internal updates. The lawsuit details that Liu’s access was enabled by a software flaw, which Apple claims allowed him to retain access to their systems after leaving the company. Furthermore, it is alleged that during his time at OpenAI, Liu accessed crucial materials, including Apple’s presentations, hardware designs, manufacturing details, and testing protocols. Apple contends that OpenAI has actively recruited former Apple employees, encouraging them to bring confidential information as part of their hiring process. This included requests for physical Apple prototypes and insights into proprietary manufacturing methods. According to Apple, this information gave OpenAI an unfair advantage in advancing its own hardware projects. In response to these allegations, OpenAI has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating, "We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."