Apple Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI for Trade Secret Theft

On July 10, 2026, Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging trade secret theft and breach of contract. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer, Tang Tan, and former Apple engineer Chang Liu misappropriated confidential information to aid OpenAI's hardware development. Apple accuses Tan of using Apple project codenames during recruitment and coaching departing employees on evading security protocols. Liu allegedly downloaded sensitive documents from an Apple-issued laptop before leaving for OpenAI. The lawsuit highlights a pattern of misconduct by OpenAI's leadership, which Apple claims is part of a strategy to extract proprietary information. Apple seeks an injunction to prevent OpenAI from using its trade secrets and demands the return of its intellectual property. The case is expected to impact talent mobility and corporate security standards in Silicon Valley.

Key Points: • Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets through former employees. • Tang Tan allegedly used Apple codenames and coached job candidates on evasion tactics. • Apple seeks an injunction to stop OpenAI from using its confidential information.