Apple has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of systematically poaching more than 400 of its former employees and stealing confidential hardware trade secrets to accelerate its push into consumer devices , escalating a rivalry between two of the most valuable names in technology into open legal conflict.
July 10 · Filed in U.S. District Court, San Jose
Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade-Secret Theft
Apple accuses OpenAI of systematically poaching former staff and taking confidential hardware secrets to accelerate its push into consumer devices — turning a once-friendly partnership into open legal conflict.
400+
Former Apple employees allegedly poached by OpenAI
$6.5B
OpenAI's 2025 acquisition of hardware startup io Products
2027
Earliest ship date for OpenAI's first hardware product
How Apple says the theft occurred
01
Staff coached to download supplier data, unreleased component details and circuit-board manufacturing presentations before leaving.
02
Candidates instructed to bring physical parts — batteries, logic boards, shields — to interviews for "show and tell."
03
A former engineer allegedly kept a company laptop and exploited an authentication bug to pull dozens of confidential files.
04
Two Apple suppliers allegedly approached for metal-finishing techniques and battery-related information.
Apple wants
An injunction
Monetary damages
Return of taken property and data
OpenAI responds
"We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets" — the company says it "remain[s] focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere." Allegations remain untested in court.
From partners to rivals
2024
→
2025
→
2026
Observers compare the fight to Waymo v. Uber (2017) — a trade-secret battle that reshaped a competitive race. A protracted case could disrupt OpenAI's hardware launch and complicate its confidential IPO plans.
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