Apple presents fresh evidence in trade secrets case against OpenAI
Apple's new filing alleges that a former engineer, Chang Liu, downloaded confidential files including a circuit schematic and used them for OpenAI's work. The company also claims Liu tried to erase evidence by having a colleague restore Apple-issued devices. Apple is seeking expedited discovery and has expanded its allegations to include 11 former employees.
Apple’s latest court filing introduces forensic findings from a MacBook used by Chang Liu after he joined OpenAI. The company says Liu accessed its third-party cloud storage to pull confidential files, including a circuit schematic, and then ran simulations with that schematic for OpenAI’s hardware work. Apple also alleges Liu used internal engineering tool names identical to its own proprietary software.
The filing further claims Liu tried to hide his tracks by asking an OpenAI colleague to “restore” Apple-issued devices, which Apple interprets as an attempt to wipe forensic evidence. This move follows Apple’s earlier request for expedited discovery and its expansion of the case to cover 11 former employees. OpenAI has dismissed the accusations as “careless, aggressive and oddly personal,” denying any misconduct.
This dispute could shape how tech giants protect proprietary knowledge as AI firms poach talent for hardware ventures. If Apple’s evidence holds, it may deter engineers from carrying sensitive files across employers, prompting stricter data-handling policies industry-wide. Conversely, aggressive litigation might chill legitimate job mobility and innovation, as workers fear legal exposure. The outcome could influence future trade-secret cases involving AI, affecting both corporate competition and individual career choices.