Apple Accuses OpenAI of Destroying Evidence in Trade Secret Lawsuit

Apple has filed new court documents alleging that OpenAI is actively destroying evidence and utilizing stolen proprietary circuit schematics to develop its own consumer hardware. The filing marks an escalation in Apple’s lawsuit, which claims that OpenAI systematically poached talent and misappropriated trade secrets to compete directly with Apple’s hardware business [1, 3].

Allegations of Data Theft and Destruction

The latest legal filings center on Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer at Apple who joined OpenAI in January 2026 [2]. Apple claims that Liu retained an Apple-issued laptop after his departure and exploited a previously unknown authentication bug to maintain access to internal cloud-based files [1, 2]. According to the filing, Liu utilized a confidential Apple circuit schematic in his work at OpenAI and employed an internal engineering application that shares a name with an Apple-proprietary tool [1].

Apple further alleges that Liu coordinated with OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence in June after learning of an internal investigation [1]. OpenAI has countered these claims, stating that any access to Apple files occurred after Liu’s employment ended and was intended only to assist former colleagues. The company characterized the unauthorized access as a systemic failure by Apple to properly manage system permissions for departing staff [1].

Hardware Competition and Interview Tactics

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, targets OpenAI’s commercial and nonprofit entities, its hardware subsidiary io Products, and OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan [2]. Apple alleges that OpenAI’s recruitment process functioned as an information-gathering operation. Specifically, the company claims that Tan—who spent 24 years at Apple—instructed job candidates to bring physical components, such as logic boards and batteries, to interviews for "show and tell" sessions [2].

This legal conflict coincides with OpenAI’s pivot toward physical consumer devices. In 2025, OpenAI acquired io Products, a hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and other ex-Apple staff, in a deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion [2]. While OpenAI has not provided specific details on its upcoming hardware, the company expects to release its first consumer device as soon as the end of 2026 [2]. Apple is currently seeking a preliminary injunction to block OpenAI from developing hardware based on the disputed technology, citing concerns that more former employees may be implicated in the theft of trade secrets [1].

What to watch

• Court Ruling on Injunction: Monitor whether the court grants the preliminary injunction, which would legally halt OpenAI’s hardware development efforts while the litigation proceeds [1].
• Expedited Discovery: Watch for the results of the fast-tracked evidence-gathering process, which Apple claims is necessary to uncover the extent of potential data misappropriation by other former employees [1].
• Hardware Timeline: Observe whether the legal proceedings impact OpenAI’s stated goal of launching its first consumer hardware product by the end of 2026 [2].

The core of the dispute remains whether OpenAI’s rapid expansion into hardware was fueled by legitimate talent acquisition or the systematic extraction of Apple’s confidential manufacturing and design processes. With over 400 former Apple employees now at OpenAI, the court’s determination on what constitutes a "trade secret" versus general professional experience will likely set a significant precedent for future tech industry hiring practices [1, 2].