Apple's New Evidence: OpenAI Used Stolen Chip Secrets, Lawsuit Says
This legal battle could shape how tech companies guard secrets.
Apple is escalating its lawsuit against OpenAI with what it calls "shocking evidence" from a laptop that used to belong to a former engineer. The engineer, Chang Liu, now works at OpenAI. Earlier this month, his lawyers handed over the old Apple laptop for inspection. Apple says the hard drive shows Liu used a confidential Apple circuit design in his work at OpenAI, and also used a tool that has the same name as an internal Apple engineering application.
Apple's lawyers claim OpenAI knew Liu still had access to Apple's private files. They also say Liu asked an OpenAI colleague to help destroy evidence when he found out Apple was investigating him. The filing says, "The MacBook represents the very limited information Defendants provided so far... and shows Apple is not conducting 'fishing expeditions' but that its trade secrets are being used and evidence is being destroyed." The actual evidence is redacted, but past filings showed text messages where Liu admitted knowing he could still access Apple files.
This matters because Apple is asking the court for a preliminary injunction — a legal order that would stop OpenAI from building hardware based on Apple's technology while the case is ongoing. Apple also wants expedited discovery, meaning it can gather evidence more quickly, because it believes more former employees may be involved. According to Apple's original complaint, more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI.
OpenAI denies the accusations. It says Liu only accessed Apple files after leaving to help former colleagues who asked for help. It argues that "residual access" is a common problem that Apple itself caused by not managing system access properly when people leave. Apple counters that Liu used a rare, previously unknown authentication bug to keep his access. The outcome could set a precedent for how tech companies handle employees who jump to rivals — and what counts as fair competition versus theft.
- Apple alleges a former employee used its secret chip designs in his work at OpenAI.
- The employee is accused of trying to destroy evidence when he learned of the investigation.
- Apple wants a judge to block OpenAI from using its technology while the case continues.
Why It Matters
This case could determine how aggressively tech companies can protect their secrets — and what employees can take to rivals. It may affect innovation and pricing.