Apple Accuses Ex-Staffer of Using Proprietary Hardware Schematics at OpenAI

Apple has sharply escalated its trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI, submitting forensic evidence that it claims proves former engineer Chang Liu misappropriated proprietary circuit schematics and orchestrated an effort to cover his tracks.

According to a report from TechCrunch, the legal filing follows an analysis of Liu's old corporate laptop, which his legal team surrendered earlier this month. Apple alleges that Liu deployed confidential Apple circuit designs and proprietary engineering software while working at OpenAI. The filing also claims Liu recruited OpenAI coworker Yu-Ting Peng in June to assist in destroying evidence after discovering he was under investigation.

Apple argued in the filing that the recovered MacBook proves its claims are grounded in fact rather than speculation. The iPhone maker asserted that Liu retained access to sensitive systems by actively exploiting a rare, previously undiscovered authentication flaw, rejecting OpenAI's claims of an offboarding oversight.

OpenAI previously defended Liu, publishing a blog post stating he merely accessed leftover files to help former colleagues who asked for technical guidance. OpenAI also criticized Apple for failing to revoke system access properly upon employee departures. However, past court records submitted by Apple featured text messages in which Liu joked about his persistent access to confidential files using laughing emojis.

In light of the new submissions, Apple is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent OpenAI from developing hardware derived from its technology, alongside an expedited discovery schedule. Apple noted in its initial complaint that more than 400 of its former staff members are currently employed by OpenAI, prompting fears of broader intellectual property leakage.

The dispute highlights the friction surrounding aggressive recruitment as artificial intelligence companies race to design custom consumer devices. With AI labs poaching experienced silicon and hardware engineers from established hardware giants, proprietary architecture and trade secrets have become central flashpoints in corporate litigation.