Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI has highlighted reports that several former employees retained access to confidential files through personal iCloud accounts after leaving the company. More than half a dozen former Apple employees told *The Information* that documents shared during their employment remained accessible after Apple cut off most corporate access. The documents included confidential material such as plans for product launch events.

The problem reportedly grew from Apple's practice of encouraging employees to connect personal Apple IDs to company-funded iCloud storage. Apple gave employees 2TB of storage and allowed them to merge it with an existing personal plan. Apple also alleges that more than 400 of its former employees now work at OpenAI.

The company filed suit on July 10 against Open AI and former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan, accusing them of deliberately taking trade secrets. Apple says it does not pursue former employees merely because confidential files accidentally remain in personal accounts. Open AI denied stealing Apple trade secrets and said it was unaware of evidence supporting the complaint.