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Apple asks court for a preliminary injunction and fast‑track discovery to block OpenAI from using alleged iPhone trade secrets, raising stakes for AI‑hardware
Apple asked a U.S. judge on Monday for a preliminary injunction that would bar OpenAI and two former Apple employees from accessing, using or disclosing Apple’s alleged confidential information, arguing that the move is needed to prevent “irreparable harm” as OpenAI accelerates its AI‑hardware plans [1].
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Apple |
| Defendant | OpenAI (plus former Apple execs Tang Tan and Chang Liu) |
| Relief sought | Preliminary injunction & expedited discovery |
| Claim focus | Trade‑secret theft of unreleased Apple tech and processes [1] |
Apple’s filing expands the original trade‑secrets suit by seeking immediate court‑ordered restrictions on OpenAI’s ability to use any Apple‑derived information. The complaint alleges that Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer and former Apple vice‑president, instructed interview candidates still employed at Apple to bring “actual parts” for “show‑and‑tell” sessions, and that Chang Liu stole a laptop and retained access to Apple’s internal servers after his departure [1]. Apple contends that without the injunction it would suffer “irreparable harm” as OpenAI pushes dedicated AI hardware that could bypass the iPhone‑centric ecosystem [1].
OpenAI has publicly rebutted the allegations, posting emails it says show Apple’s outside counsel mistakenly sent a follow‑up to the wrong recipient and that Apple employees, not Liu, continued to contact him for technical help after his exit [1]. The AI firm also maintains that Tan has instructed his team not to use any confidential information from other companies [1].
The dispute arrives as AI competition shifts from pure software models to dedicated hardware that could reduce reliance on smartphones. OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s startup signaled its intent to build new AI‑hardware categories, positioning it as a potential rival to Apple’s iPhone‑driven hardware ecosystem [1]. If Apple secures the injunction, OpenAI’s hardware timeline could be delayed, preserving Apple’s market advantage but also risking prolonged litigation that may affect OpenAI’s partner Microsoft, which supplies compute resources for the company [1].
The case underscores how trade‑secret disputes are becoming a front‑line tool in the emerging AI‑hardware battle, with the outcome likely to shape the pace at which non‑Apple firms can challenge the iPhone‑centric market.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 2 outlets · Aug 5, 2026 · How we report
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