Apple filed a 41-page complaint against OpenAI in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on July 10, accusing the ChatGPT maker of a coordinated campaign to steal hardware trade secrets. OpenAI says it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.”
Key Takeaways
Apple sued OpenAI on July 10 in California federal court, naming hardware chief Tang Tan in a 41-page filing.Apple says ex-engineer Chang Liu kept a company laptop and pulled confidential files after joining OpenAI in 2026.OpenAI denies the claims as it readies its first device for 2026 and a potential IPO near an $852B valuation.The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court, alleges OpenAI orchestrated a scheme to obtain Apple’s product designs, manufacturing processes and supply chain strategies as the AI firm builds its first consumer hardware device. The complaint states:
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.
Two Names at the CenterOpenAI pushed back on the allegations, explicitly stating:
We have no interest in other companies’ trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.
