Apple vs OpenAI heads to court, trial date set for trade secrets lawsuit
Apple and OpenAI are preparing for a legal battle. Earlier this year, Apple filed a lawsuit alleging that OpenAI had obtained its trade secrets. Since then the two companies have shared emails and documents building their own cases. And now, the lawsuit finally has a date for the trial.
This week, US District Judge Edward J Davila formally approved the schedule for the lawsuit. Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, io Products and two former employees will go to trial on July 19, 2027, at 9 am. The case was filed by Apple on July 10, 2026 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Apple accuses two former employees, Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu, of taking confidential hardware information to OpenAI and Jony Ive’s startup io Products. This, Apple alleges, is helping the two companies develop competing consumer hardware.
Since filing the case in July this year, the lawsuit has been in a pre-trial phase. During this, both sides are allowed to present documents and exchange evidence. The final pretrial conference will be held on June 24, 2027.
Apple alleges that Chang Liu failed to return a company laptop after leaving the company. It accuses Liu of downloading what it called “dozens of Apple’s confidential hardware-related files” when he joined OpenAI.
The Cupertino giant also alleges that Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI’s hardware chief, “methodically” used confidential information by emailing himself material concerning Apple suppliers and internal industry summaries before leaving.
OpenAI has disputed the allegations. “While we take these allegations seriously, we’re not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit,” the AI startup said previously. OpenAI also said departing employees could retain files without wanting them or knowing they remained accessible.
The dispute followed OpenAI’s 2025 acquisition of io Products, the hardware startup co-founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive. Apple named io Products as a defendant, but did not name Ive personally.
Apple alleges that OpenAI systematically recruited its employees to build a competing smart speaker and said more than 400 former Apple employees worked at OpenAI. “That OpenAI now employs people who were once entrusted with Apple’s trade secrets does not entitle OpenAI to use that information to jumpstart its hardware efforts,” Apple said in its complaint.
Previously, OpenAI claimed that it stopped talks with Apple after the latter’s lawyer mixed up the names of two OpenAI employees – Wang and Chang.
Earlier this month, OpenAI separately alleged that a former employee took confidential hardware files when returning to Apple in June 2026. Apple has denied the allegation.- EndsAlso Read | OpenAI alleges ex-employee stole unreleased device files before joining AppleAlso Read | We don't want their trade secrets: OpenAI breaks silence on Apple lawsuit, makes internal chats publicAlso Read | Apple lawyer mixed up Wang and Chang, OpenAI says lawsuit has no merit
Armaan loves to keep an eye on everything happening in the world of tech and AI. You will find him testing new gadgets, exploring the latest LLMs and making sense of the emerging tech. When not working around tech, he will be exploring new music or catching up on motorsport or aviation.
