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Technology

OpenAI publishes messages and emails to challenge Apple’s trade secrets case

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 04 Aug 2026 2 days ago

OpenAI has sharply rejected Apple’s trade secrets allegations, accusing the iPhone maker of filing a “careless, aggressive and oddly personal lawsuit.” The AI company published a detailed on August 3 titled “Apple is getting this wrong.”

The dispute centres on two former Apple employees, Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan, who now work at OpenAI. Apple claims they took confidential information that could help OpenAI build consumer hardware. OpenAI says it has found no evidence to support those claims and does not want Apple’s trade secrets.

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OpenAI questions Apple’s account of early contact

OpenAI said Apple had claimed it contacted the company in February and received no response. According to OpenAI, Apple’s outside lawyer emailed the wrong person after confusing two Asian surnames.

Apple’s lawyer also sent an email that appeared to refer to a phone conversation with OpenAI General Counsel Che Chang. Chang responded that no such call had taken place.

The lawyer later said the message was intended for another former Apple employee and had been sent to Chang by mistake.

OpenAI said the specific allegations later included in the lawsuit were not raised during those exchanges.

“We wish Apple had raised these issues with us before they filed their lawsuit and would have been happy to clarify all of this with them,” OpenAI said.

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Dispute over former employees’ access

Apple has accused Liu of accessing confidential information after leaving the company. OpenAI claims Apple employees contacted Liu after his departure and asked him to help locate files for their work.

OpenAI said former employees may retain “residual access” when Apple does not properly remove system permissions. Liu’s last day at Apple was January 22, 2026, according to messages published by OpenAI.

The company also defended Tan, Apple’s former vice president of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

“Tang has always been clear with the team that we do not want, and must not use, any confidential information from other companies,” OpenAI said.

Apple seeks injunction and faster discovery

Apple has asked a US court for a preliminary injunction blocking OpenAI, Liu and Tan from accessing, using or sharing the alleged confidential material.

The company has also sought faster document production and depositions involving OpenAI employees and corporate representatives.

“Apple will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction,” Apple said in its filing.

OpenAI rejected the request, saying, “Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction is both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets.”

The case could shape the emerging battle over AI hardware. OpenAI is believed to be developing consumer devices that could compete for attention currently centred on smartphones such as the iPhone.

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