CUPERTINO, July 11 — Apple has formally initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, setting in motion a legal process that could stretch across years and reshape the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence. The procedural timeline, outlined in court documents, begins with service of the complaint. Apple must deliver the filing to OpenAI, after which the AI company has 21 days to respond.
A federal judge will then set a schedule for discovery — a phase that typically runs six to 12 months, involving depositions, document reviews, and the exchange of technical evidence. A preliminary injunction hearing could come within months.
At that stage, Apple must demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of its claims to secure a court order blocking OpenAI’s products while the case proceeds. If the matter advances to trial, the timeline extends to one to two years. The case lands in a well-established legal tradition.
Trade secret litigation often produces settlements before trial, as companies weigh the cost of public discovery against the risk of a jury verdict. A court order barring OpenAI’s products remains a possible outcome, as does a jury award of damages.
Apple also faces the prospect of dismissal if it fails to prove its claims.
Legal mechanics and possible resolutions
The filing opens a procedural roadmap familiar to technology litigators. After service and the 21-day response window, the court will set discovery parameters. This phase, lasting six to 12 months, allows both sides to depose witnesses and review internal documents.
A preliminary injunction represents the first major inflection point. Apple must show it is likely to win on the merits of the case, that it faces irreparable harm without court intervention, and that the balance of equities favors a temporary block.
Such hearings often compress months of legal argument into a single judicial ruling. Settlement remains the most common resolution in trade secret disputes, according to legal analysts familiar with the pattern. Confidential agreements, licensing arrangements, or structured phase-outs of contested technology often emerge before a jury convenes.
If the case does reach trial, a jury could award damages or the court could issue a permanent injunction.
Timeline for readers
For observers tracking the case, the coming weeks will determine the initial rhythm. Service of the complaint triggers the 21-day clock. Discovery, if ordered, will consume much of the next year.
A preliminary injunction ruling could arrive within months. The case could also end abruptly.
If Apple fails to establish the elements of its claims — misappropriation, improper acquisition, or use of trade secrets — the court may dismiss the action before discovery even begins. What remains clear from the filing is that both sides face significant legal exposure. For Apple, the burden is proving its case with evidence that must remain sealed to protect the very secrets at the heart of the dispute.
For OpenAI, the challenge is defending its product architecture without confirming the allegations. The court has not yet set a hearing date.
The docket will provide the next concrete milestone.
Sources
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