"A Pattern of Theft": Apple Says More Ex-Employees May Have Taken Confidential Data to OpenAI

 "A Pattern of Theft": Apple Says More Ex-Employees May Have Taken Confidential Data to OpenAI

**The legal battle between the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT creator is escalating, as Apple now alleges the misconduct was more widespread than initially thought. The company is seeking a court order to prevent OpenAI from using its trade secrets to build a rival hardware device.**

## Introduction: The Lawsuit That's Getting Bigger

What started as a lawsuit against two former employees has now evolved into a broader probe into what Apple calls a "pattern of theft." In a new filing on August 3, 2026, Apple revealed that its investigation has uncovered "11 other former Apple employees" who may have been "witnesses or otherwise involved in the case" .

The allegations are serious: Apple claims that OpenAI engaged in a systematic campaign to poach Apple employees and extract confidential information to jumpstart its own consumer hardware business—a business that could one day challenge the iPhone itself .

## The Expanding Investigation: More Than Just Two Defendants

Apple's original July 2026 lawsuit named two former employees: Tang Yew Tan, a former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch who is now OpenAI's chief hardware officer, and Chang Liu, a former senior systems electrical engineer .

But Apple's latest court filing suggests the misconduct goes much further :

> "Another former Apple employee seems to have met with Mr. Liu and Ms. Peng in advance of Ms. Peng's interview at OpenAI and discussed with them during that meeting Apple proprietary information relating to unannounced products," the filing states. "Yet another former Apple employee took screenshots of confidential Apple documents relating to an unannounced Apple product before an interview at OpenAI."

Apple also claims that after it filed the original lawsuit, "multiple former Apple employees now working at OpenAI reached out to discuss returning Apple-issued work devices they kept when they left Apple" . This suggests a wider network of former employees may have retained Apple equipment—and potentially Apple data—after departing for OpenAI.

The total number of former Apple employees now at OpenAI is estimated at more than 400 .

## What Apple Is Asking the Court to Do

Apple has requested a preliminary injunction that would:

- **Bar OpenAI and the two former employees** from accessing, acquiring, using, or disclosing Apple's confidential information 

- **Order depositions** of the defendants, along with OpenAI employee Yu-Ting Peng and an unnamed OpenAI employee who previously worked at Apple 

- **Grant expedited discovery** to uncover the full scope of the alleged misconduct 

OpenAI has rejected the allegations, saying in a blog post: "Apple's request for a preliminary injunction is both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets" .

## The Heart of the Dispute: A Battle Over Hardware

The lawsuit ultimately boils down to one thing: **hardware**.

OpenAI, best known for its ChatGPT software, has been quietly building a family of AI devices with Jony Ive, Apple's legendary former design chief . The company has already acquired io Products, a hardware startup co-founded by Ive and Tan, in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion .

Apple, for its part, views this as a direct threat to its business.

Apple's lawsuit describes OpenAI's hardware ambitions as built on "an unsustainable foundation, rotten to the core due to its reliance on illegally acquired trade secrets" .

## The Specific Allegations: A Campaign of Theft

Apple's 41-page complaint details a series of alleged incidents :

### The Liu Case

Chang Liu, who worked at Apple for eight years, is accused of keeping an Apple-issued laptop after leaving in January 2026 and exploiting an authentication vulnerability to access Apple's internal network . He allegedly downloaded dozens of files related to unreleased products, technical specifications, and circuit board manufacturing processes . "That's funny, I just got access to the network archive," Liu texted a colleague, according to the lawsuit .

### The Tan Case

Tang Yew Tan, who spent 24 years at Apple, is accused of sending himself supplier information before leaving . He is also alleged to have instructed job candidates still working at Apple to bring "actual parts" from Apple to interviews at OpenAI .

### The Supplier Allegations

Apple claims OpenAI and io Products used confidential knowledge obtained from former employees to contact Apple's suppliers . In one incident, a supplier allegedly performed an Apple-developed metal-finishing process for OpenAI after being led to believe Apple had authorized the work .

## What This Means for OpenAI and the AI Industry

The lawsuit could have significant consequences for OpenAI, which is reportedly planning to go public soon .

Even if the case takes years to resolve, the litigation could slow OpenAI's hardware development, complicate its IPO plans, and discourage Apple employees from jumping ship .

For Apple, the lawsuit is part defensive. The company has watched its former staff and design chief regroup at a company now building the kind of ambient hardware Apple has long guarded .

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What is Apple accusing OpenAI of?**

A: Apple has accused OpenAI of a "pattern of theft" of its trade secrets, involving two former employees and potentially others. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI recruited Apple employees to gain access to confidential information about hardware design, manufacturing, and suppliers, and used that information to build its own consumer hardware business.

**Q: Who are the key individuals in the lawsuit?**

A: Two former Apple employees are central to the case. Tang Yew Tan, former vice president of product design at Apple, is now OpenAI's chief hardware officer. Chang Liu, a former senior systems electrical engineer at Apple, also joined OpenAI.

**Q: What is OpenAI's response?**

A: OpenAI has called Apple's request for an injunction "based on false information and completely unnecessary," stating "we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets."

**Q: Could this affect OpenAI's hardware plans?**

A: Possibly. If Apple's request for a preliminary injunction is granted, it could temporarily prevent OpenAI from using alleged trade secrets, potentially delaying its product development. Even if it's not granted, the lawsuit could distract OpenAI's leadership and make it harder to recruit from Apple.

**Q: What is the Jony Ive connection?**

A: Jony Ive, Apple's former legendary design chief, co-founded io Products, a hardware startup that OpenAI acquired for nearly $6.5 billion. While Ive himself is not named as a defendant, he is central to the story.

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## Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The allegations in this lawsuit have not been proven in court. You should consult with a qualified legal professional for guidance on specific legal issues.