Apple is getting this wrong
Hacker News · 2026-08-04
OpenAI disputes Apple's "careless, aggressive, and oddly personal" lawsuit, filed August 3, 2026, which accuses former Apple employees, specifically Tang Tan, of attempting to use Apple's trade secrets. OpenAI asserts that Tan, who served Apple for over 24 years, has always prohibited the use of confidential information from other companies within their team and states that Apple's request for a preliminary injunction is based on false information. OpenAI claims they attempted to resolve the issues directly with Apple before the lawsuit, but Apple instead pursued legal action while making "vague accusations."
Supporting OpenAI's perspective, internal iMessages from January and February 2026 show former Apple employee Chang Liu being repeatedly asked by Apple employees for assistance locating files and information for Apple's work, even after his departure on January 22, 2026. This includes requests for details on Apple's product plans and schematics. Furthermore, email correspondence from February 23, 2026, reveals that Apple's outside counsel, Gabriel Gross, mistakenly contacted OpenAI's General Counsel Che Chang, suggesting an intention to discuss the retention of confidential information by former employees. Gross later confirmed this was an error, and no specific claims were raised or followed up on before the lawsuit five months later.
*The full article also explores the specific redacted details of the confidential information Apple employees sought from Chang Liu and the implications of this exchange.*