Editorial illustration for Apple: 12 More Ex-Employees May Have Taken Data to OpenAI
Apple Sues OpenAI: 12 More Ex-Employees Accused
Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI just got bigger. In a new court filing, the company says its investigation has turned up 11 more former Apple employees who may have witnessed or taken part in the alleged theft of trade secrets, on top of the two already named: senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan. Apple is now asking a court for a preliminary injunction to stop OpenAI from building an AI device or other products it claims rely on stolen Apple technology.
The filing seeks expedited discovery from Liu, Tan, OpenAI and its foundation, and io, the hardware startup Jony Ive co-founded after leaving Apple. It also references Yu-Ting Peng, an OpenAI employee named in the original complaint, and describes new conduct Apple says its lawyers uncovered after the case was first filed.
This isn't a minor update. Apple is telling the court the problem runs wider than the two employees it initially accused, and that former staff kept acting even after the lawsuit landed. The details Apple lays out, about meetings, screenshots and unannounced products, form the core of its argument for why the case needs to move faster.
Apple is now seeking a preliminary injunction in its trade secrets case against OpenAI, which aims to stop the AI model maker from moving forward with developing an AI device or other products based on Apple’s technology. The iPhone maker also claims that more of its former employees may be involved with the trade secrets theft.
Why this matters
This case is starting to look less like a two-employee poaching dispute and more like a structural question about how AI companies build hardware teams. Apple naming 11 additional former employees, on top of Liu and Tan, suggests the alleged movement of trade secrets wasn't isolated. If Apple gets its preliminary injunction, it could freeze OpenAI's hardware ambitions, including whatever device work OpenAI has planned with former Apple designer Jony Ive's startup, well before any trial resolves the underlying claims.
For founders hiring out of Apple, Google, or any company with aggressive IP enforcement, this is a reminder that "clean hires" require actual diligence, not just an NDA on file. For researchers and engineers moving between labs, the expedited discovery request signals Apple intends to scrutinize communications and file transfers closely, not just job titles. And for OpenAI, already juggling scrutiny on multiple fronts, a court-ordered halt on device development would be a real setback, not a paperwork inconvenience. Watch whether the injunction request succeeds before the list of implicated employees grows further.
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Common Questions Answered
How many former Apple employees are now allegedly involved in the trade secrets theft to OpenAI?
Apple's investigation has identified 13 former employees total who may have witnessed or participated in the alleged theft of trade secrets. This includes the two originally named employees, senior systems engineer Chang Liu and Chief Hardware Officer Tang Yew Tan, plus 11 additional former Apple employees discovered during the ongoing investigation.
What is Apple seeking through the preliminary injunction against OpenAI?
Apple is asking the court to stop OpenAI from developing AI devices or other products that the company claims rely on stolen Apple technology. The preliminary injunction aims to freeze OpenAI's hardware ambitions before the full legal case is resolved.
Why does this case suggest a broader structural issue beyond individual employee poaching?
The involvement of 13 former Apple employees indicates that the alleged movement of trade secrets was not an isolated incident but rather a pattern of coordinated activity. This suggests a systematic effort to transfer Apple's confidential information to OpenAI rather than just individual employees changing jobs, raising questions about how AI companies are building their hardware teams.
How might this lawsuit impact OpenAI's hardware development plans with Jony Ive's startup?
If Apple successfully obtains the preliminary injunction, it could freeze OpenAI's hardware ambitions, potentially affecting any device work OpenAI has planned in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive's startup. This could significantly delay or halt OpenAI's hardware initiatives while the trade secrets case is being litigated.
Further Reading
- Apple says former employee exploited 'rare' bug to download confidential files after leaving for OpenAI - TechCrunch
- Apple sues OpenAI, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, court records show - Reuters
- Apple sues OpenAI after ex-engineer allegedly used bug to steal trade secrets - Ars Technica
- Apple sues OpenAI and two former employees, accusing them of trade secret theft - NBC News
- Apple sues OpenAI, alleging artificial intelligence company stole trade secrets to build hardware - The Guardian
