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Apple Alleges OpenAI Employee Used Secret Circuit Design
Apple and OpenAI are in a court fight about secret technology.
Apple says former employee Chang Liu accessed a private circuit design after joining OpenAI.
Apple also says he used Apple information while working there.
The company says a laptop provided in the case contained evidence supporting its claims.
Apple alleges Liu and another OpenAI employee tried to destroy evidence.
OpenAI says Liu accessed Apple systems only to help former coworkers.
OpenAI also says its products are completely new and disputes Apple’s interpretation of the access.
A court has not yet decided whether Apple’s claims are true.
Apple alleges former engineer Chang Liu accessed a proprietary power-converter schematic after joining OpenAI.
Apple says Liu used confidential Apple information to train an artificial intelligence agent in March 2026.
Apple says a MacBook provided during the case contained evidence of the alleged access and possible evidence destruction.
Apple alleges Liu and OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng discussed or took steps to destroy evidence in June.
Apple seeks expedited discovery and restrictions on OpenAI hardware development, while OpenAI seeks dismissal and disputes the allegations.
- Who
- Apple, OpenAI, former Apple engineer Chang Liu, and OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng.
- What
- Apple alleges Liu accessed and used confidential Apple circuit plans and other proprietary information while working at OpenAI.
- Where
- The dispute is being heard in a United States federal court.
- When
- Apple says the information was used in March 2026, alleged evidence destruction occurred in June, and the MacBook was provided on August 21; the reports were published September 1.
- Why
- Apple is seeking to protect its trade secrets, obtain evidence more quickly, investigate possible involvement by others, and restrict OpenAI hardware development based on Apple technology.
Apple’s allegations
OpenAI’s response
Use of confidential technology
Apple’s allegations
Apple alleges Liu accessed a proprietary circuit schematic and used confidential Apple information in his work at OpenAI, including to train an artificial intelligence agent.
OpenAI’s response
OpenAI disputes Apple’s interpretation of Liu’s conduct and says it is building products that are entirely new.
Access to Apple systems
Apple’s allegations
Apple says Liu deliberately exploited a previously unknown authentication flaw to access Apple information after leaving the company.
OpenAI’s response
OpenAI says Liu accessed Apple systems only to help former colleagues and argues that residual access can result when departing employees are not properly removed from systems.
Evidence and investigation
Apple’s allegations
Apple says the MacBook supports its claims, alleges Liu and Peng took steps to destroy evidence, and seeks expedited discovery to determine whether others were involved.
OpenAI’s response
OpenAI challenges the lawsuit and has sought its dismissal; the evidence-destruction allegations have not been established in court.
OpenAI hardware development
Apple’s allegations
Apple seeks a preliminary injunction preventing OpenAI from developing hardware based on Apple technology while the case continues.
OpenAI’s response
OpenAI says its products are entirely new; the court has not ruled on Apple’s proposed restrictions.
Key facts
- Former Apple role
- Chang Liu previously worked as a senior system electrical engineer at Apple and later joined OpenAI.
- Alleged confidential material
- Apple says Liu accessed a proprietary power-converter circuit schematic and used a tool with the same name as an internal Apple engineering application.
- Alleged artificial intelligence use
- Apple says Liu trained an artificial intelligence agent using proprietary Apple information in March 2026.
- Laptop evidence
- A MacBook previously used by Liu was provided to Apple on August 21 during the legal proceedings.
- Alleged evidence destruction
- Apple alleges Liu sent instructions to OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence in June.
- Apple’s requests
- Apple is seeking expedited discovery and a preliminary injunction restricting OpenAI from developing hardware based on Apple technology.
- OpenAI’s position
- OpenAI says Liu accessed Apple systems to assist former colleagues, disputes Apple’s interpretation of residual access, and says it is building entirely new products.
- Case status
- The allegations remain unproven, and the court has not ruled on Apple’s requests or OpenAI’s motion to dismiss.
Quotes
Apple’s lawyers
Lawyers representing Apple in the trade-secrets lawsuit
“The MacBook represents the very limited information defendants provided so far (and only after weeks of delay), and shows Apple is not conducting ‘fishing expeditions’ but that its trade secrets are being used and evidence is being destroyed.”
livemint.com
“Apple now tries to shift the blame to ‘residual access,’ but they also don’t disclose that this is a common issue with Apple which is caused by them failing to properly manage system access when people leave.”
livemint.com
Sources
Apple-OpenAI lawsuit: What evidence does Apple claim former employee destroyed?
Apple alleges former engineer accessed circuit plans while at OpenAI
Apple Alleges OpenAI Employee Accessed Circuit Plans After Joining Startup
Apple accuses OpenAI employee of stealing secret circuit design in new development in ongoing case
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