Apple has named OpenAI, io Products, and former employees Chang Liu and Tang Tan as defendants. The complaint alleges that Apple's trade secrets were stolen for the benefit of OpenAI.
Apple Sues OpenAI, Alleging Theft of Trade Secrets by Former Employees
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
Tan previously served as a VP overseeing product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch at Apple. Liu was with the company for eight years as a senior system electrical engineer before moving to OpenAI in January 2026.
Apple stated that it communicated its concerns directly to OpenAI in February and requested an investigation, but received no response from OpenAI.
According to the complaint, Tan used internal Apple project codenames during interviews to ask about plans for unannounced products. Furthermore, it is alleged that Tan instructed current Apple employees to bring and exchange "actual parts" and "prototypes."
An Apple spokesperson explicitly stated that individuals employed by OpenAI illegally took confidential information regarding unannounced technologies and processes. OpenAI's hardware division is led by Jony Ive and others.
Ive joined OpenAI after acquiring io from Apple in a $6.5 billion deal last year. Ive himself is not named as an individual in this initial lawsuit.
Source: Apple sues OpenAI, accuses ex-employees of stealing trade secrets（HN 1660pt・967コメント）（HN Search (backfill), 2026-07-11）