Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former employees in a California federal court, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets. The complaint claims a coordinated effort to steal confidential information, including product designs and manufacturing processes. Former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan are named as defendants. Apple alleges Liu accessed its internal network and downloaded confidential files, while Tan is accused of using Apple’s information to benefit OpenAI. The lawsuit highlights that over 400 former Apple employees now work for OpenAI, raising concerns about the use of proprietary knowledge. Apple previously reached out to OpenAI in February regarding these concerns but did not receive a response. The strained relationship between the two companies has intensified amid competition in AI development.
Published 1 day ago • 11 Jul 2026, 03:14 AM IST