Apple sues OpenAI and two ex-Apple engineers, including hardware chief Tang Tan, for trade-secret theft over AI devices
On July 10, 2026 Apple sued OpenAI in the Northern District of California, alleging that OpenAI, its Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and engineer Chang Liu (both ex-Apple) misappropriated Apple trade secrets (specs, engineering presentations, supplier and component data, a metal-finishing process) to build OpenAI's consumer AI devices. Apple seeks a preliminary injunction; it is set to be argued on Oct 14, 2026.
Key facts
- Filed July 10, 2026, US District Court for the Northern District of California
- Complaint: 'at every level, from members of its Technical Staff to its Chief Hardware Officer, and in coordination with business partners, OpenAI has been stealing Apple's trade secrets and confidential information' (CNBC)
- Tang Tan (24 years at Apple, led iPhone/Apple Watch product design; OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer): accused of using Apple project code names in recruiting, asking candidates to bring Apple components to interviews, coaching departing staff on evading security and emailing himself supplier information (TechCrunch, Axios)
- Chang Liu (8 years at Apple, senior systems electrical engineer): accused of keeping an Apple laptop and downloading confidential technical documents
- Alleged material: technical specifications, engineering presentations, component and vendor selection, a proprietary metal-finishing technique
- Defendants: TechCrunch's launch report said io (Jony Ive's company, bought by OpenAI in 2025 for $6.5B) was not named; later 9to5Mac/CNBC coverage lists io Products among the defendants (likely added later; unverified)
- OpenAI on X: 'We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets'
- Relief: injunction barring use/disclosure, return of materials, evidence preservation; Apple moved for a preliminary injunction
- Sept 2026: Apple's reply brief added five expert declarations (126 pages); OpenAI (Sept 25) accused Apple of 'sandbagging' with new evidence; Apple (Oct 5) said OpenAI's objection improperly added new argument and an eight-paragraph Liu declaration
- Preliminary-injunction hearing: Oct 14, 2026 (9to5Mac)
What happened
Apple, once OpenAI's ChatGPT partner in iOS, sued OpenAI over its hardware program. The complaint centres on Tang Tan, who ran product design at Apple before co-founding io with Jony Ive and becoming OpenAI's hardware chief, and on engineer Chang Liu. Apple says the recruiting of Apple staff was used to obtain confidential designs and supplier information for OpenAI's devices. The case has since turned into a fight over Apple's preliminary-injunction motion, with both sides accusing the other of improper late filings.
Why it matters
It is the most direct legal clash between Apple and an AI lab, and it could slow OpenAI's first consumer devices (a pocket-sized Ive device was expected in early 2027). Added on Oct 6, 2026 as a backfill: the dataset had missed the July filing until the Oct 5 filing surfaced.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06: created (backfill, found through the Oct 5 9to5Mac report)
People
Related events
Sources (6)
- pressTechCrunch: Apple sues OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft (Jul 10)
- pressCNBC: Apple sues OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, says scheme was 'at every level'
- pressAxios: Apple sues OpenAI for trade secret theft
- pressBloomberg: Apple sues OpenAI for trade secret theft over AI hardware designs
- press9to5Mac: OpenAI accuses Apple of improperly adding new evidence (Sept 25)
- press9to5Mac: Apple accuses OpenAI of improperly adding new arguments (Oct 5)
id: 2026-07-10-apple-sues-openai-trade-secrets · updated 2026-10-06 · open in the interactive timeline