Key Points
- Apple has submitted new court filings alleging OpenAI engaged in evidence destruction related to a trade secrets lawsuit
- Ex-Apple engineer Chang Liu is accused of downloading proprietary Apple circuit designs and utilizing them in his OpenAI projects
- Digital forensics of Liu’s company-issued MacBook revealed he maintained unauthorized access to Apple’s cloud systems post-employment
- According to Apple, Liu directed an OpenAI coworker to eliminate evidence, with the colleague confirming she would do so
- The court has scheduled October 1 for arguments on Apple’s request for expedited discovery
In a significant development, Apple has intensified its litigation against OpenAI by submitting fresh court filings that allege the artificial intelligence company engaged in evidence destruction within a trade secrets dispute.
Apple claims in a new court filing that @OpenAI is actively destroying crucial evidence in trade secrets case.
Apple’s lawyers say an initial forensic analysis of an Apple-issued MacBook used by a former iPhone engineer found evidence that he and others at OpenAI were aware ofā¦ pic.twitter.com/Fs2RiZo9Gg
ā Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) August 31, 2026
The litigation revolves around Chang Liu, a previous Apple engineering employee who departed the iPhone maker in January to take a position at OpenAI. According to Apple’s assertions, Liu represents just one member of a group exceeding 400 former Apple staff members currently employed by the organization behind ChatGPT.
The tech giant’s most recent court submission was filed on Monday to bolster its request for accelerated pretrial discovery. Apple contends it needs to collect evidence swiftly, suggesting additional employees might be implicated.
Forensic Analysis Findings
When Liu’s company-provided MacBook was surrendered to Apple’s legal counsel for digital forensics examination, the analysis yielded what Apple characterizes as its most compelling evidence to date.
According to Apple’s allegations, Liu obtained a proprietary Apple circuit schematic and incorporated it into his OpenAI assignments. The laptop examination additionally revealed that Liu maintained access to Apple’s external cloud storage infrastructure following his departure from the company.
Apple maintains that Liu and additional OpenAI personnel were fully cognizant of this unauthorized system access. The court documents emphasize that OpenAI delayed surrendering the laptop for several weeks.
The most damaging allegation states that Liu transmitted directions to a fellow OpenAI employee to eliminate evidence upon discovering he was being investigated. Apple asserts that this coworker, named as Yu-Ting Peng, acknowledged she would follow through.
Apple contends the laptop demonstrates “trade secrets are being used and evidence is being destroyed,” describing it as among the limited evidence OpenAI has provided thus far.
OpenAI’s Response to Claims
OpenAI has refuted the allegations and is seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. The AI company maintains it adhered to conventional hiring protocols when recruiting previous Apple employees.
OpenAI contends that Liu’s access to Apple files following his departure occurred solely to assist former coworkers who requested his help. The company has provided text message evidence supporting this explanation.
OpenAI has additionally stated that Liu’s ongoing access stemmed from Apple’s failure to properly manage system permissions upon his exit. Apple counters that Liu deliberately took advantage of “a rare, previously unknown authentication bug.”
Apple maintains that OpenAI has demonstrated a pattern of delayed evidence production throughout the litigation.
Apple further alleges that Liu utilized a tool at OpenAI bearing an identical name to a proprietary Apple engineering application. The filing provides no additional information regarding this tool.
Relations between Apple and OpenAI have deteriorated significantly over recent months. The situation intensified following OpenAI’s recruitment of former Apple design executive Jony Ive to assist with hardware product development.
Initial reports describe OpenAI’s debut hardware product as a doughnut-shaped smart speaker approximately the size of a hockey puck, featuring mechanical moving components.
Apple is pursuing financial compensation and requesting a court injunction preventing OpenAI from utilizing any allegedly misappropriated materials.
The federal judge overseeing the case has scheduled October 1 to consider arguments regarding Apple’s expedited discovery motion.
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