Apple has filed suit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees in federal court, accusing the AI company of orchestrating a systematic theft of trade secrets to accelerate its ambitions in AI hardware. The complaint, lodged July 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, alleges trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract and demands a jury trial.
July 10, 2026 · U.S. District Court, N.D. California
Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Hardware Trade Secrets
Apple accuses OpenAI and two former employees of orchestrating a systematic misappropriation of confidential know-how — prototype transfers, security-evasion coaching and an unreturned laptop — to accelerate its AI hardware ambitions. OpenAI says it has "no interest in other companies' trade secrets."
400+
former Apple employees now working at OpenAI, per the complaint
$6.5B
OpenAI's 2025 acquisition of Jony Ive's design studio io
~41
pages in Apple's filing seeking injunction and damages
Named Individual Defendants
Tang Yew Tan
Now: OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer
24 years at Apple as VP of product design (iPhone, Apple Watch). Accused of misusing supplier relationships and metal-finishing techniques.
Chang Liu
Now: OpenAI Technical Staff
8 years as an Apple senior systems electrical engineer. Accused of failing to return an Apple laptop and downloading internal documents.
What Apple Alleges
Wrongdoing "at every level," from technical staff to the chief hardware officer.
Encouraged sharing of confidential project details during recruitment
Physical transfer of unreleased components in "show and tell" sessions
Guidance on evading Apple's security controls
Obtaining supplier information by falsely suggesting Apple had authorized it
How Two Partners Became Adversaries
2024
Apple integrates ChatGPT into its devices
→
2025
OpenAI buys io; engineer exodus accelerates
→
Feb 2026
Apple raises written concerns — no response
→
Jul 2026
Apple files trade-secret suit, demands jury trial
OpenAI's Defense
"No interest in other companies' trade secrets" — focused on "building innovative technology." Sympathizers note aggressive hiring of rival talent is lawful.
The Bigger Signal
A marker for how courts treat talent mobility and confidential know-how as AI firms push aggressively into hardware. Product specifics await discovery.
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