Apple files trade secret theft lawsuit against OpenAI
Apple 2026-07-10(local time) filed a trade secret theft lawsuit against OpenAI in a California federal court. Apple named former employees who moved to OpenAI as defendants, 2 in total, and raised issues including the unauthorized removal of confidential files and instructions to bring real components to interviews.
Apple 2026-07-10(local time) filed a trade secret theft lawsuit against OpenAI in a California federal court. Apple said the lawsuit shows a rupture in the cooperative relationship between Apple and OpenAI.
In the complaint, Apple named two former Apple employees now working at OpenAI as defendants. Tang Tan was involved in the design of the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPod, and is currently OpenAI’s chief hardware officer. Chang Liu was identified as an electrical engineer who handled sensitive product development at Apple.
Apple claims the two had access to Apple’s confidential information and files while working at OpenAI. It said Chang Liu continued to download several hardware-related confidential files from Apple-issued devices after leaving the company, and that Tang Tan instructed applicants during interviews to bring actual Apple parts.
The complaint alleged that OpenAI had been manufacturing new hardware products for interacting with artificial intelligence beyond traditional products and interfaces, and that this manufacturing was built in part on knowledge stolen from Apple.
Apple said it had sought help from OpenAI in the artificial intelligence race sparked by the emergence of ChatGPT several years ago. The lawsuit has been filed in a federal court in California.
Sources: 뉴시스 경제
Bullstory synthesized this report from the linked sources. AI may have assisted the writing process. Check the original reports for factual confirmation.