{
  "id": 4903869,
  "title": "OpenAI Blames Apple for iPhone Maker’s Trade Secret Lawsuit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/openai-blames-apple-for-iphone-makers-trade-secret-lawsuit",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-01T17:28:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/openai-blames-apple-for-iphone-maker-trade-secret-lawsuit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In July, Apple initiated legal proceedings against OpenAI, alleging the theft of trade secrets. This dispute escalated further this week, with Apple now accusing an OpenAI employee of destroying evidence within the case. OpenAI contends Apple bears sole responsibility for the lawsuit. In a motion for expedited discovery filed on August 31 and obtained by PYMNTS, Apple outlined an initial forensic analysis of a MacBook utilized by Chang Liu, a former Apple employee and former OpenAI technical staff member. The investigation revealed Liu had downloaded a \"confidential Apple circuit schematic\" for use at OpenAI. Upon discovering Apple's internal investigation into Liu, he instructed an OpenAI colleague to destroy evidence, who confirmed compliance. Apple's filing asserts this limited evidence demonstrates Apple is not conducting broad investigations but that their trade secrets are being utilized and evidence is being destroyed. OpenAI, for its part, claims Apple's lawsuit is unfounded and aims to impede OpenAI's talent acquisition and development of competing technology. OpenAI's allegation suggests Apple encourages employees to use personal accounts for work, despite urging them to do so. The lawsuit alleges Liu and OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer, Tang Tan, stole Apple's confidential information. OpenAI disputes Tan's actions, stating the materials he emailed were personal or non-confidential, as well as a publicly available manager's checklist. OpenAI maintains Tan only communicated about old or publicly available \"demonstrative aids,\" typical in engineering interviews. OpenAI also asserts Apple contacted Liu post-dismissal to aid in locating necessary files, which Liu obliged. OpenAI had previously requested to dismiss the lawsuit last month. This legal battle highlights the strained relationship between Apple and OpenAI, which had previously agreed in 2024 to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT with Apple's Siri, but now Apple uses Google's Gemini for its new AI-powered Siri.",
  "summary": "In July, Apple sued OpenAI, accusing its one-time partner of stealing trade secrets. The legal battle continued this week, with Apple now alleging that an OpenAI employee has destroyed evidence in the case, and OpenAI saying Apple has no one to blame for the suit but itself. In a motion for expedited discovery filed in […] The post OpenAI Blames Apple for iPhone Maker’s Trade Secret Lawsuit…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ventureburn",
        "title": "Apple Says OpenAI Is Destroying Evidence in Ongoing Trade Secrets Lawsuit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-says-openai-is-destroying-evidence-in-ongoing-trade-secrets",
        "published": "2026-09-01T11:15:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daring Fireball",
        "title": "Apple Reveals Forensic Evidence From Chang Liu’s MacBook in OpenAI Lawsuit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/apple-reveals-forensic-evidence-from-chang-lius-macbook-in-openai",
        "published": "2026-09-01T17:36:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}