Apple files lawsuit against OpenAI for alleged trade secret theft and breach of contract

Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging trade secret theft and breach of contract. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI's senior leadership, including Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan, orchestrated a pattern of misconduct involving former Apple employees.

Details of the Allegations Against OpenAI

According to Apple, the lawsuit outlines that Tang Tan used Apple’s confidential project code names during recruitment and instructed job candidates to bring Apple hardware to interviews. Furthermore, he allegedly coached departing employees on evading security protocols and sought details about unannounced Apple products.

Tan, who worked at Apple for 24 years as VP of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, is implicated in these serious allegations at a time when OpenAI is reportedly developing its first hardware product, potentially a smartphone that could compete with the iPhone. Industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested this device may utilize AI agents instead of traditional apps.

Additional Employees Named in the Lawsuit

Apple's lawsuit also identifies Chang Liu, a former senior systems electrical engineer at Apple, who allegedly failed to return an Apple-issued laptop after joining OpenAI in 2026. This laptop was reportedly used to download confidential Apple technical documents, including specifications and engineering presentations related to unreleased technologies.

Liu is accused of sharing Apple’s confidential information with other Apple employees seeking jobs at OpenAI and advising them on interview preparations. Apple claims its investigation revealed that OpenAI utilized its confidential information while developing its hardware products.

Apple's Response and Legal Actions

Apple sent a letter to OpenAI in February expressing its concerns but received no response. The company asserts that the actions of these former employees reflect OpenAI's strategy to extract confidential information. In the lawsuit, Apple seeks to bar OpenAI from using its trade secrets, require the return of any confidential materials, and preserve evidence related to the case.

“This is the tip of the iceberg. Apple lacks visibility into what’s been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI,” the filing states.

In a statement, Apple emphasized its commitment to protecting its intellectual property and noted that it takes trade secret theft very seriously. OpenAI was later asked for comment and responded by stating, “We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”