OpenAI alleges ex-employee took files to Apple in trade secret dispute

OpenAI has accused a former employee of transferring more than 100 confidential files related to its product plans to a personal account before leaving to join Apple. The allegation appears in a legal filing submitted in the ongoing trade secret lawsuit between the two technology companies. According to the filing, the employee later presented this information to Apple leadership, including the vice president of operations in Asia.

Allegations of Data Transfer

The filing, which was entered on the public docket on October 14, 2026, states that a forensic investigation revealed the former employee sent the files to personal accounts. Some of these transfers occurred just after midnight in Singapore on June 2, 2026, which the filing identifies as the employee’s final day at OpenAI.

The documents allegedly contained images of at least one unreleased device, supplier information, engineering data, project files, standards for cosmetic finishes, and reports about the “coating and sealing of hardware components.” OpenAI links this information to Apple’s recent product announcements, including the HomeView smart display and the Home Collection. “That presentation appears to have happened months ago — and now, armed with that information, Apple is making a new push into AI-enabled products,” OpenAI claims in the filing.

Legal Context and Counterclaims

This development is part of a broader legal battle initiated by Apple in July 2026. In its original complaint, Apple alleged that former employees, including OpenAI hardware lead Tang Yew Tan and former electrical engineer Chang Liu, directed Apple employees to provide details on unreleased devices and manufacturing processes. Apple accused the defendants of misappropriating trade secrets related to hardware engineering, product design, and supply chain information.

OpenAI has consistently denied these initial allegations. In an August 3, 2026 post, OpenAI stated, “we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets.” The new filing serves as a supplement to the parties’ joint case management statement. OpenAI is asking the court for a case management approach that would allow it to investigate the alleged conduct and potentially file counterclaims against Apple.

Apple’s Response

Apple has rejected OpenAI’s new allegations. In response to the filing, Apple stated that it has policies and procedures in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers. “Apple said that it has policies and procedures in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential information from previous employers and that it has found no evidence to support OpenAI’s allegations,” according to a report by Reuters.

The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, before Judge Edward J. Davila. Both sides have requested a jury trial. The defendants have proposed being ready for trial by June 1, 2027, or no later than October 2027 on a longer schedule.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights the intense competition between major technology firms as they expand into AI-enabled hardware. OpenAI’s concern that its trade secrets are “circulating inside Apple” underscores the high stakes involved in talent mobility and intellectual property protection in the consumer electronics sector. The outcome of these legal proceedings could influence how companies manage employee transitions and protect proprietary information in the AI era.

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Sources

• theverge.com: OpenAI claims an ex-employee took its product plans and presented them to Apple | The Verge
• unite.ai: OpenAI Alleges Employee Who Rejoined Apple Took Unreleased Device Files – Unite.AI
• appleworld.today: Tit for tat: now OpenAI claims an ex-employee took ITS trade secrets to Apple
• ctvnews.ca: OpenAI employee who left for Apple allegedly took files about unreleased device
• economictimes.indiatimes.com: OpenAI: OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges - The Economic Times
• latestly.com: OpenAI Claims Ex-Employee Transferred Files on Unreleased Product to Apple | 📲 LatestLY

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.