OpenAI Responds to Apple's Trade Secret Lawsuit

Jul 16, 2026
OpenAI has rejected allegations made by Apple in its ongoing trade secret lawsuit, stating the claims lack merit and asserting its commitment to fair competition. The case involves accusations that former Apple employees shared confidential information after joining OpenAI.
OpenAI Responds to Apple's Trade Secret Lawsuit
Image: TechCrunch

OpenAI has rejected allegations made by Apple Inc. in a trade secret lawsuit, reports TechCrunch. The company said it is unaware of any evidence supporting Apple's claims that confidential information was misused.

This response follows Apple's lawsuit filed on July 10, 2026, which accuses OpenAI of recruiting former Apple employees to obtain proprietary material. The 41-page complaint, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, names multiple individuals, including OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan, who previously led product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

OpenAI stated that it remains focused on its own innovations and supports employee freedom to work where they choose. Apple, however, claims its internal investigation found evidence that OpenAI and affiliated partners used confidential data while developing hardware products. Reports suggest the AI company is working on a mobile smart device that may compete with Apple’s offerings.

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