Apple accuses OpenAI of destroying evidence in trade secrets lawsuit over former engineer

Aug 31, 2026

Apple has escalated its federal trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, submitting court filings on August 31, 2026, that accuse the AI developer of actively destroying evidence. Forensic analysis of a MacBook used by former Apple engineer Chang Liu allegedly reveals he used proprietary Apple circuit schematics at OpenAI and instructed colleague Yu-Ting Peng to delete evidence. OpenAI has rejected the claims, calling the dispute a mess of Apple's own making and attributing any file access to Apple's security failures.

Apple-OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit

▪Apple submitted a court filing on August 31, 2026, requesting expedited pre-trial discovery and a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI from using its proprietary technology.
▪A federal judge is scheduled to review Apple's motions for expedited discovery and a preliminary injunction during a court hearing on October 1, 2026.
▪Apple filed a trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract lawsuit against OpenAI, Chang Liu, and Tang Yew Tan on July 10, 2026, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

Chang Liu evidence allegations

▪Apple alleges Chang Liu utilized a software tool at OpenAI that bears an identical name to a proprietary, internal Apple engineering application used for development work.
▪Apple's forensic analysis of the MacBook showed Chang Liu maintained active, unauthorized access to Apple's third-party cloud storage systems after his departure on January 22, 2026.
▪Apple's forensic analysis of a company-issued MacBook returned by Chang Liu revealed he downloaded a proprietary Apple circuit schematic and used it in his hardware engineering work at OpenAI.

Evidence destruction claims

▪Apple accused OpenAI of delaying the return of Chang Liu's company-issued MacBook for several weeks before finally producing it during the discovery process.
▪Apple alleges Chang Liu instructed OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence in June 2026 after learning he was under investigation, and that Peng agreed to comply.

OpenAI hiring of Apple employees

▪Apple claims that more than 400 of its former employees, including former VP of product design Tang Yew Tan, have been hired by OpenAI.
▪OpenAI has partnered with former Apple design executive Jony Ive to develop a hockey-puck-sized, doughnut-shaped smart speaker featuring mechanical moving parts.

OpenAI dismissal motion response

▪OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Chang Liu only accessed Apple files to assist former colleagues and that any residual access was due to Apple's security failures.
▪OpenAI urged the federal court to narrow or deny Apple's requested injunction, warning that such a measure would chill employee mobility in the technology sector.