Apple shares 'shocking evidence' of its trade secrets being used by former employee
Apple alleges that a former employee misappropriated confidential circuit schematics, uncovered during a forensic analysis of a company-issued MacBook. Claims suggest the individual ran simulations utilizing proprietary data from Apple. Notably, identical tool names emerged at a competing firm. Ongoing investigations are being conducted on additional devices to further assess the situation.
Apple has presented "shocking evidence" in its legal dispute with OpenAI, claiming a former employee, Chang Liu, used trade secrets while working for OpenAI. According to Apple, Liu downloaded a confidential Apple circuit schematic from the company's cloud storage after leaving the company in January 2026. This file contained information about a power-converter circuit, which was highly confidential and used in or considered for Apple products.
Apple's forensic review of Liu's MacBook revealed that he used this circuit file to run simulations in LTspice, an electrical engineering tool, even after leaving Apple. The MacBook also showed that Liu continued accessing Apple's cloud storage after his initial downloads, contradicting OpenAI's argument that the activity was accidental.
Apple also alleges that Liu used tools at OpenAI with names identical to proprietary internal engineering tools used at Apple, suggesting further instances of trade-secret misuse. The iPhone maker claims that more devices remain to be investigated, including the Mac Mini allegedly used for the circuit simulations.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
