Apple unveils MacBook evidence in trade-secret fight with OpenAI

A newly filed court document alleges a former Apple engineer downloaded confidential schematics, used them at OpenAI, and then directed a colleague to destroy evidence after learning he was under investigation.

Key points

Apple filed new court evidence from Chang Liu's work MacBook alleging he downloaded and used confidential Apple schematics at OpenAI.
Apple claims Liu instructed an OpenAI colleague to destroy evidence after learning he was under investigation, and the colleague confirmed they would do so.
Apple is pushing for expedited discovery, arguing OpenAI's resistance may signal ongoing evidence destruction.

5 sources 4 web 88% confidence

Source highlights

TechCrunchPrimaryApple shares ‘shocking evidence’ against former employee accused of stealing company data for OpenAI—80%

appleinsider.comWeb contextApple says evidence shows OpenAI's destruction of evidence—48%

9to5mac.comWeb contextApple hits back at OpenAI’s bid to dismiss trade secret theft lawsuit - 9to5Mac—56%

bitget.comWeb contextCommercial secrets lawsuit intensifies! Apple (AAPL.US) confirms OpenAI's destruction of evidence, holds employees accountable for stealing internal core technical data | Bitget News—56%

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Story brief

Who should care

DevelopersAudit your use of any code, schematics, or tools brought from prior employers and ensure no proprietary assets are stored on personal or current-employer devices.

This case highlights how forensic examination of work laptops can surface proprietary files and naming conventions that create legal exposure.

FoundersReview onboarding procedures for new hires from competitors to ensure no proprietary materials are retained or used, and document compliance.

Apple alleges OpenAI employees were aware of a new hire's access to a former employer's cloud storage, underscoring the risk of institutional knowledge of IP leakage.

PMsEnsure product teams use only internally developed or properly licensed tools and naming conventions, avoiding reuse of names or assets from prior employers.

Apple's filing flags that a tool used at OpenAI shared the same name as an internal Apple engineering application, which became part of the legal record.

What changed

2026-01Former Apple iPhone engineer Chang Liu leaves Apple to join OpenAI.
2026-07Apple files trade-secret theft lawsuit against OpenAI, io Products, Chang Liu, and Tang Tan.
2026-08-04OpenAI publishes a blog post titled 'Apple is getting this wrong,' sharing message exchanges to counter Apple's allegations.