# Apple sends legal preservation letters to ~40 former staff now at

**Published:** 2026-07-19T23:08:07.121Z  
**Topic:** Apple News  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/54c1a2fd-2d74-420e-a2ea-23afc3517837

Apple has mailed legal preservation letters to roughly 40 ex‑employees now at OpenAI, expanding its trade‑secret lawsuit and signaling a broader dispute over

Apple has sent legal preservation letters to about 40 former Apple engineers now working at OpenAI, asking them to retain any documents that could relate to Apple’s trade‑secret lawsuit filed last week [2]. The move widens the scope of the dispute beyond the two defendants already named, underscoring Apple’s concern that more of its confidential hardware designs may have been used by the AI firm.

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Company | Apple |
| Legal action | Trade‑secret lawsuit against OpenAI |
| Letters sent | ~40 former employees |
| Targeted ex‑staff | Tang Tan (Chief Hardware Officer) and Chang Liu (senior engineer) |

## Expanding the legal net  
Apple’s lawsuit, filed last week, accuses OpenAI and two former Apple executives—Tang Tan and Chang Liu—of misappropriating proprietary hardware designs, manufacturing processes, and other trade secrets [4]. The preservation letters, a standard pre‑discovery tool, instruct the recipients to keep any relevant communications and records, suggesting Apple believes the alleged theft may involve additional former staff [1]. Financial Times reporting confirms the figure of roughly 40 letters [2].

## Implications for the AI‑hardware race  
OpenAI has denied any evidence supporting Apple’s claims, but the company’s hardware ambitions—particularly a forthcoming AI‑accelerator device—could be directly impacted if Apple succeeds in proving misuse of its IP [4]. The letters also serve as a warning to other ex‑Apple talent now at OpenAI, indicating that Apple is closely monitoring the AI firm’s development pipeline. With more than 400 former Apple employees reportedly now at OpenAI, the letters target about 10 % of that cohort [3].

## What to watch
- **Discovery timeline** – Any court‑ordered production of documents from the 40 recipients could reveal the extent of alleged IP transfer.  
- **OpenAI hardware rollout** – Progress on OpenAI’s AI‑accelerator device may be delayed or altered if Apple secures an injunction.  
- **Further legal notices** – Additional preservation or subpoena letters could appear if Apple uncovers more potential sources.

Apple’s escalation signals a broader battle over hardware know‑how as AI firms seek to build proprietary chips. Whether the lawsuit will force OpenAI to redesign its hardware or settle the dispute remains to be seen, but the legal pressure adds a new variable to the fast‑moving AI‑hardware market.

## Sources
1. 9to5Mac — [Apple sends legal letters to former employees now at OpenAI](https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/17/apple-sends-legal-letters-to-former-employees-now-at-openai/)
2. The Verge — [Apple reportedly sent legal warnings to dozens of former employees at OpenAI.](https://www.theverge.com/tech/967022/apple-reportedly-sent-legal-warnings-to-dozens-of-former-employees-at-openai)
3. Mashable — [Apple sends legal letters to dozens of OpenAI defectors, report says | Mashable](https://mashable.com/tech/apple-sends-legal-letters-to-dozens-of-former-employees-now-at-openai)
4. Macrumors — [Report: Apple Sends Legal Letters to Dozens of OpenAI Employees - MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/17/apple-sends-legal-letters-openai/)
5. Apple — [Apple Sends Legal Letters To Dozens of OpenAI Employees - Slashdot](https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/07/17/1552258/apple-sends-legal-letters-to-dozens-of-openai-employees)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Apple sends legal preservation letters to ~40 former staff now at", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/54c1a2fd-2d74-420e-a2ea-23afc3517837