Apple shares 'shocking evidence' of its trade secrets being used by former employee
Apple has filed legal evidence alleging that a former employee, Chang Liu, misappropriated confidential circuit schematics and used them while working at OpenAI. The company claims the employee engaged in anti-forensic behavior to hide the theft of trade secrets after leaving the firm.
Why it matters
This case underscores the intense legal and security battles between major tech firms regarding intellectual property and AI talent poaching.
Apple has presented what it calls “shocking evidence” in its legal fight with OpenAI, saying a MacBook used by former employee Chang Liu revealed that Apple trade secrets were used while he was working for the ChatGPT maker. In a new court filing, Apple said its initial forensic review of the MacBook found that Liu had downloaded a confidential Apple circuit schematic after leaving the company and later used it while working at OpenAI. Apple also claims the former employee used the circuit information to run simulations and worked with an AI agent on those simulations.“The MacBook further shows that in June 2026 and after learning they were the subject of an internal Apple investigation, Mr. Liu and his OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting ("Alyssa") Peng exchanged messages in which he told her to have Apple-issued devices "restored" and to then "start using" them more. (Roffman Decl. 9 25, Ex. D.)
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