Apple Submits New Evidence Alleging Trade Secret Theft in Ongoing OpenAI Lawsuit

Apple has introduced what it describes as "shocking evidence" in its legal dispute with OpenAI, accusing a former engineer of transferring proprietary hardware designs and attempting to destroy digital records.

The updated allegations center on Chang Liu, a former Apple employee currently working at OpenAI. According to court filings submitted in late August 2026, Apple gained access to Liu's former company laptop after his legal team surrendered the device earlier in the month.

Schematics and Covert Erasure

Apple claims that forensic analysis of the laptop reveals Liu utilized confidential Apple circuit schematics while performing tasks at OpenAI. The filing also asserts that Liu utilized an engineering tool that shares a name with an internal Apple application.

Furthermore, Apple alleges that OpenAI was fully aware of Liu's access to confidential files. When Apple initiated its investigation in June, Liu reportedly collaborated with OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to wipe evidence before investigators could secure it.

While core details in the latest filing remain redacted, previous submissions included text messages showing Liu acknowledging that he still possessed active access to internal Apple repositories well after his departure.

Contested Access and System Flaws

OpenAI has previously defended Liu, asserting that he only accessed Apple files after leaving the company to assist former colleagues who reached out for help. OpenAI argued that any lingering credential access stemmed from Apple's failure to properly manage system permissions during employee offboarding.

Apple countered that argument in its latest filing, asserting that Liu maintained entry by exploiting a "rare, previously unknown authentication bug" rather than relying on administrative oversight.

Requests for Injunction and Discovery

Apple is asking the court for a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI from developing hardware derived from Apple technology while litigation continues. The company is also seeking expedited discovery, citing concerns that additional staff could be implicated given that more than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI.