Apple files lawsuit against OpenAI alleging trade‑secret theft

Apple filed a federal complaint on 10 July 2026 in the Northern District of California, accusing OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products, and two former Apple engineers—Tang Tan (now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer) and Chang Liu (former senior system electrical engineer)—of stealing Apple trade secrets. The suit alleges that Liu retained an Apple‑issued laptop after leaving the company, exploited an undocumented authentication bug to access Apple’s internal network, and downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files related to unreleased iPhone, Apple Watch and MacBook projects, even coaching a colleague on how to evade security controls. Tan is accused of directing Apple candidates to bring actual components, CAD designs and prototype parts to “show‑and‑tell” interviews, and of emailing internal Apple documents to personal accounts before departing. Apple says the conduct reflects a “coordinated pattern of misconduct at an institutional level” and notes that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI. The complaint explicitly excludes the existing commercial agreement that integrates ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence. OpenAI has responded that it “has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” and remains focused on building innovative technology.

"We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets," OpenAI’s director of strategic communications Drew Pusateri said. Apple added, "We will defend the work and innovations of our teams and take all necessary measures to protect our intellectual property."