Apple filed a lawsuit accusing former employee Chang Liu of misappropriating trade secrets after his January exit. The company said it had never raised the allegations at the time and even told the startup it was ‘resolving any issues.’ Five months later, Apple sued, claiming Liu accessed highly sensitive programs. The claim centers on confidential design documents and code.

OpenAI replied that Apple employees had actually reached out to Liu, asking for help locating the information, something the phone maker now admits. The lawsuit also names Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, who Apple says sought proprietary data during employee interviews. OpenAI emphasized that it has strict policies prohibiting the use of any confidential information from other firms and that it has never accessed Apple data.

Apple requested a preliminary injunction to stop former employees and OpenAI from accessing, using, or disclosing its trade secrets. It also asked the court to expedite discovery and order depositions for Liu and Tan. These actions reflect Apple’s long-standing strategy to protect its intellectual property.

OpenAI dismissed the claim as based on false information, insisting it has no desire for Apple’s secrets. The company criticized the lawsuit as ‘careless, aggressive and oddly personal,’ noting Apple’s reputation for obsessive detail.