{
  "id": 4797223,
  "title": "OpenAI says Apple has only itself to blame in trade-secret fight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/openai-says-apple-has-only-itself-to-blame-in-trade-secret-fight",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-01T05:32:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/openai-says-apple-has-only-itself-blame-in-trade-secret-fight-6354066"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI has rebuffed Apple's accusations of trade secret theft, asserting that Apple failed to demonstrate that any confidential information was taken by former employees. This dispute appears to be a result of Apple's own actions, as OpenAI claims the tech giant is attempting to deflect blame. The legal battle began when Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, Tang Tan and Chang Liu, in July, alleging that they had stolen trade secrets related to hardware design, manufacturing, and supply-chain operations as OpenAI seeks to enter the consumer device market. OpenAI argues that Apple is employing the lawsuit to impede a potential competitor and dissuade employees from leaving the company. In fact, OpenAI has recruited around 400 former Apple personnel for its hardware project, according to court documents. The dispute represents a significant escalation in the strained relationship between the two companies, which once collaborated to enhance ChatGPT's expansion and aid Apple's position in AI. However, their partnership deteriorated as AI competition intensified. Apple argued in its original lawsuit that OpenAI's hiring of former employees was part of its strategy to uncover competitive secrets. Tan and Liu allegedly accessed internal Apple files following their departure. OpenAI contends that Apple permits employees to utilize personal iCloud accounts to access work documents, making it challenging for departing employees to distinguish between personal and company information. Apple's policy of immediately removing departing employees from its premises does not provide enough time for them to return company devices, transfer internal files back to Apple, or hand over responsibilities, OpenAI claims. Chang Liu stated that any access to Apple documents after his departure was to assist former Apple colleagues in locating files or answering work-related questions. He alleged that Apple employees frequently reached out to him for assistance after he left. Tan, who spent 24 years at Apple, said he returned Apple prototypes before leaving and only retained non-confidential materials, including an employee departure checklist that was not confidential. Employees are free to switch from a struggling company like Apple to a dynamic startup developing innovative products, OpenAI wrote. Apple cannot claim that such choices are unlawful and cannot use its own flawed procedures to blame others for its predicament.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "Apple reveals ‘shocking evidence’ from ex-employee’s MacBook in OpenAI suit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-reveals-shocking-evidence-from-ex-employees-macbook-in-openai",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "New evidence shows OpenAI's trade secret theft & destruction of evidence, says Apple",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/new-evidence-shows-openais-trade-secret-theft-destruction-of-evidence",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:24:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI defendant accessed circuit schematic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-alleges-openai-defendant-accessed-circuit-schematic",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:29:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI employee accessed circuit plans after joining startup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/apple-alleges-openai-employee-accessed-circuit-plans-after-joining",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:41:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "Apple shares ‘shocking evidence’ against former employee accused of stealing company data for OpenAI",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-shares-shocking-evidence-against-former-employee-accused-of",
        "published": "2026-09-01T00:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "Apple alleges OpenAI employee accessed circuit plans after joining startup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-alleges-openai-employee-accessed-circuit-plans-after-joining",
        "published": "2026-09-01T02:21:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Apple claims OpenAI is using confidential Apple material and destroying evidence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-claims-openai-is-using-confidential-apple-material-and",
        "published": "2026-09-01T05:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
        "title": "OpenAI says Apple has only itself to blame in trade-secret fight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/openai-says-apple-has-only-itself-to-blame-in-trade-secret-fight-4798001",
        "published": "2026-09-01T05:46:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}