Apple submits new evidence in lawsuit against former employee now at OpenAI

Apple has submitted additional material in its lawsuit against OpenAI, which it describes as "shocking evidence" supporting allegations that former employees stole trade secrets. The new details surfaced after legal counsel for former Apple employee Chang Liu, who now works at OpenAI, handed over his old Apple work laptop for investigation earlier this month.

Apple now alleges Liu used a confidential Apple circuit schematic in his work at OpenAI, along with a tool sharing a name with an internal Apple engineering application. The company also claims OpenAI was "well-aware" of Liu's access to Apple data, and that Liu enlisted OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng in June to help destroy evidence after learning Apple was investigating him.

According to Apple's filing, the laptop represents only a limited portion of information the defendants have provided so far, and demonstrates that Apple is not conducting a baseless inquiry but is instead facing genuine misuse of trade secrets and evidence destruction. The new evidence remains redacted from public view, though earlier filings included text messages in which Liu acknowledged having access to Apple files.

OpenAI's defense

OpenAI has previously defended Liu, stating that he accessed Apple files after leaving the company only to assist former colleagues who had requested his help. In a blog post, the company said Apple is attempting to shift blame onto "residual access," without disclosing that this is a common issue stemming from Apple's own failure to properly manage system access after employees depart.

Apple, however, maintains that Liu retained access by exploiting a rare, previously unknown authentication bug. TechCrunch has requested comment from OpenAI regarding Apple's latest allegations.

Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction that would block OpenAI from working on hardware based on Apple's technology while the case proceeds, along with expedited discovery, arguing that additional former employees may also be involved. Apple's initial filing states that more than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI.