Apple filed a trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against OpenAI, two former employees, and a supplier on July 10 in the Northern District of California. The 41-page complaint alleges a coordinated pattern of theft involving stolen laptops, exploited authentication bugs, and interview 'show and tell' sessions. OpenAI has stated it is 'not aware of any evidence' the suit has merit, but the specificity of the allegations makes them unusually dangerous.
The Alleged Scheme
According to the complaint, former Apple engineer Chang Liu kept his Apple-issued laptop after leaving the company in 2023 and later joined OpenAI. While at OpenAI, he allegedly exploited a previously unknown authentication bug to access Apple's shared network folders, downloading dozens of confidential files including over a thousand pages of technical specifications. In a message on a colleague's laptop, Liu reportedly wrote 'LOL' and expressed amusement at his unauthorized access, calling it 'so funny.'
Apple claims Liu ignored exit procedures, failed to return the laptop, and announced he planned to access Apple information on another computer. The complaint also names Tang Yew Tan, another former employee, and io Products, a supplier, accusing them of participating in the scheme. Yu-Ting 'Alyssa' Peng, still an Apple employee at the time, allegedly responded to Liu's messages with 'I'm ready,' suggesting coordination.
Industry Reactions
The lawsuit has drawn comparisons to the Waymo v. Uber case involving Anthony Levandowski, with commentators noting the specificity of Apple's evidence. Analysts like Max Weinbach described the allegations as 'insane but completely believable,' while others pointed out that Apple rarely files or loses lawsuits. Some critics questioned why Apple did not lock or locate the retained laptop, but the forensic detail in the complaint suggests Apple has server logs supporting its claims.
OpenAI has not yet filed a response, and the case is in its early stages. The outcome could have significant implications for how tech companies handle insider threat detection and trade secret protection.