On July 10, 2026, Apple filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, alleging that OpenAI systematically stole and exploited iPhone-related trade secrets through those former staff.
July 10, 2026 · Northern District of California
Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of iPhone Trade Secrets
Apple accuses OpenAI and two former employees of systematically misappropriating confidential hardware secrets — calling OpenAI's device business "built on a corrupt foundation." OpenAI declined to comment.
2
former Apple employees named as defendants
~1,000
pages allegedly downloaded from internal files
$6.5B
OpenAI's 2025 io Products hardware acquisition
WHO ALLEGEDLY DID WHAT
Chang Liu
Former senior system electrical engineer
Failed to return company laptop
Used an authentication bug to reach the internal network
Downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files, incl. unreleased products
Tang Yew Tan
Former iPhone/Watch design VP · now OpenAI CHO
Emailed himself supplier information
Took internal industry summaries before leaving
Allegedly used them systematically for OpenAI
Apple alleges OpenAI directed the misconduct
Concealment
Advised not to disclose their next employer
"Dreaded walk out"
Coached to dodge the two-week period that cuts access
"Show and tell"
Physical Apple prototypes brought to interviews
FROM PARTNERS TO COURTROOM
2024
ChatGPT integrated into Siri via "Apple Intelligence"
→
2025
OpenAI buys io Products for $6.5B, entering hardware
→
2026
Apple files trade-secret suit against OpenAI
WHAT APPLE IS SEEKING
Injunction
Destruction of misappropriated materials
Product redesign
Jury trial
Damages
Litigation is ongoing; facts to be determined at trial. OpenAI has previously prevailed as a defendant in trade-secret cases — including an xAI suit dismissed in February and June 2026 on "ordinary recruiting processes."
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