Technology and Science04 August, 20263 min read
Apple Seeks Injunction Against OpenAI, Chang Liu, Tang Tan Over Trade Secrets
“This place is crazy hahahah we use Ai all over the place”
“The legal battle between Apple and OpenAI just escalated.”
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Apple sues OpenAI and two ex-employees for alleged trade secrets theft. Apple seeks a preliminary injunction and expedited discovery against OpenAI.
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Injunction Fight Escalates
Apple filed a complaint on July 10, 2026 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against OpenAI, naming Chang Liu and Tang Tan among the defendants in a dispute over alleged theft of confidential information and trade secrets. Apple asked a US judge to bar two former employees and OpenAI from accessing, acquiring, and using confidential information, and said it “will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction” if the court does not grant it. In its public response, OpenAI posted a blog post titled “Apple is getting this wrong,” 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 centers on Apple’s claim that OpenAI and the former Apple employees directed Apple employees interviewing with OpenAI to provide details on unreleased devices, components, manufacturing processes, and vendor relationships. OpenAI’s response also frames the dispute as a matter of process and access, arguing that it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” while it focuses on building technology.
Chats, Emails, and Disputes
OpenAI released iMessage and email materials as part of its response, including a text message from Chang Liu saying, “This place is crazy hahahah we use Ai all over the place,” after he left Apple earlier this year to join OpenAI. OpenAI also published messages it said show Apple employees reached out to Liu for technical information, including a January 27, 2026 message stating, “Of course, I could ask several folks, but you are the best.” Apple, meanwhile, argued that it uncovered evidence of a months-long scheme, and in the Northern District of California filing it described how Tan and Liu directed Apple employees to provide details about unreleased devices and related relationships.
OpenAI countered that Apple’s lawyers sent an email to the wrong person after “confundir dos apellidos asiáticos,” and said the company only admitted the error after OpenAI “les llamamos la atención sobre esto.” The dispute also includes OpenAI’s claim that Apple’s earlier outreach and general-counsel contact were mishandled, while OpenAI insists it does not want or use Apple trade secrets.
More Names, More Stakes
Apple’s legal push expanded beyond Chang Liu and Tang Tan, with a new filing seeking expedited discovery and noting that its investigation revealed 11 other former Apple employees beyond Liu and Tan may have been witnesses or otherwise involved. The TechCrunch report says Apple’s filing describes examples including a former Apple employee taking screenshots of confidential Apple documents relating to an unannounced Apple product before an interview at OpenAI. OpenAI responded to the latest request by repeating that its position is “both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets.”
Apple also sought to accelerate discovery and depositions, and the DiarioBitcoin account says Apple asked for declarations including Yu-Ting Peng and other named and unnamed individuals as part of its effort to protect the information it says was taken. The dispute is framed as affecting OpenAI’s hardware ambitions, with TechCrunch stating Apple wants to stop OpenAI from moving forward with developing an AI device or other products based on Apple’s technology.