Apple sued OpenAI and two former employees for stealing unreleased hardware designs. The complaint alleges trade secret theft tied to OpenAI's consumer device push. No hearing date set.
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Apple filed a lawsuit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California accusing OpenAI and two former employees of stealing confidential design information for unreleased hardware products.
The suit names Chang Liu, a former senior electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice president of product design at Apple who now serves as OpenAI's chief hardware officer. Apple alleges the two accessed proprietary files after failing to return their work computers when they left the company, then used that data to help OpenAI develop its own consumer devices.
The complaint covers trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and unfair competition. Apple said it discovered the breach in February 2026 and sent OpenAI a letter requesting cooperation. The company never responded, according to the filing.
Hannah Smith, an Apple spokesperson, said: "Recently, significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple's secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products. We will always defend our teams' hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so."
Drew Pusateri, an OpenAI spokesperson, said: "We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets. We remain focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."
The lawsuit targets unreleased Apple hardware designs that OpenAI could have used to speed up its push into physical devices. Apple is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction barring further use of the information. A finding of willful misappropriation could lead to treble damages under federal law.
For Apple, the case tests its ability to protect product roadmaps in an era of high executive mobility. The company has long relied on strict secrecy around unreleased devices. A leak of supplier contacts or prototype specifications could erode its launch advantage. The complaint alleges Liu and Tan took files covering supply chain details and product specifications.
OpenAI faces legal exposure at a critical moment. The company is building a hardware division under Tan's leadership, with ambitions to create AI-native devices. The lawsuit could slow hiring and force the company to defend its design process in court. The case also adds to the regulatory scrutiny OpenAI already faces over its AI models.
The court docket lists Apple v. Liu, case number 3:26-cv-04127. No hearing date has been set. The case is assigned to Judge William H. Orrick III.
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