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Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade-Secret Theft

7/14/2026

34 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Apple sued OpenAI on Friday for trade-secret theft.
The complaint says Tang Yew Tan emailed himself confidential designs and requested CAD files, while Chang Liu took a MacBook and downloaded circuit-board data.
Apple seeks injunctive relief, a jury trial, and destruction of the stolen material.
OpenAI says it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.
Bloomberg reports OpenAI still plans a 2026 product announcement and a 2027 release.

History

Historical Context

In February 2017 Waymo sued Uber, claiming Google engineer Anthony Levandowski downloaded 9.7 GB of lidar and design files and used them in Uber’s program. The case settled in February 2018 with Uber paying $245 million (0.34 % equity), and the 2024 Apple complaint against OpenAI engineers Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu for copying CAD data shows the IP battles over AI technology.

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Story summary

Apple sued OpenAI on Friday for trade-secret theft.
The complaint says Tang Yew Tan emailed himself confidential designs and requested CAD files, while Chang Liu took a MacBook and downloaded circuit-board data.
Apple seeks injunctive relief, a jury trial, and destruction of the stolen material.
OpenAI says it has no interest in other companies’ trade secrets.
Bloomberg reports OpenAI still plans a 2026 product announcement and a 2027 release.

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