Overview
- Apple filed a 41‑page federal complaint on July 10 accusing OpenAI, its io Products unit and two former Apple engineers of a coordinated effort to obtain confidential iPhone hardware designs and supplier know‑how.
- The suit alleges former Apple engineer Chang Liu kept an Apple MacBook after leaving, exploited a software bug to access Apple network storage and downloaded privileged files according to quoted text messages.
- Apple says OpenAI hardware lead Tang Yew Tan solicited confidential information during recruiting and encouraged candidates to bring “actual parts” to interviews, and that OpenAI sought supplier work by implying Apple approval.
- OpenAI has said it takes the allegations seriously but stated it is not aware of any evidence that the complaint has merit while Apple has sent preservation notices to roughly 40 former Apple hires now at OpenAI.
- Legal experts say discovery and preservation orders typical in trade‑secret cases can freeze hiring, supplier work or product progress, which could delay OpenAI’s nascent device plans and affect partner and investor confidence.