Apple files new evidence in lawsuit accusing former employee of stealing data for OpenAI

Apple has escalated its lawsuit against OpenAI by filing new evidence it says supports claims that former engineer Chang Liu, who now works at OpenAI, used confidential Apple data in his new role. The material surfaced after Liu's legal counsel handed over his old Apple-issued work laptop for investigation earlier this month.

Apple alleges Liu used a confidential Apple circuit schematic while working at OpenAI, along with a tool sharing its name with an internal Apple engineering application. The company further claims OpenAI was well aware of Liu's access to Apple data, and that Liu asked OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to help destroy evidence in June after learning Apple had launched an investigation into him.

According to Apple's court filing, the laptop represents only a limited portion of the information the defendants have provided so far, and demonstrates that Apple's trade secrets are being used while evidence is being destroyed. The newly submitted evidence remains redacted from public view, though earlier filings included text messages from Liu showing he was aware he retained access to Apple files.

OpenAI's defense

OpenAI has previously defended Liu, saying he accessed Apple files only after leaving the company in order to help former colleagues who had asked for his assistance. In a blog post published earlier this month, OpenAI said Apple was trying to shift blame to so-called "residual access," without disclosing that this is a common issue at Apple caused by its failure to properly manage system access when employees depart. Apple, however, maintains that Liu retained access by exploiting a rare, previously unknown authentication bug.

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 implicated. Apple's initial filing states that more than 400 former Apple employees currently work at OpenAI.