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Apple Seeks Court Order in AI Trade Secrets Dispute With OpenAI

By  |  August 4, 2026
Apple

Apple has asked a U.S. federal court to issue a preliminary injunction against OpenAI and two former Apple employees, intensifying a legal battle over allegations that confidential company information was improperly used in the development of AI hardware, according to Reuters.

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    The request, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to bar the defendants from using or disclosing what Apple says are its proprietary trade secrets while the lawsuit proceeds. Apple also requested expedited discovery, including documents and depositions from the former employees and representatives of OpenAI and io Products, Reuters reported.

    According to Reuters, Apple argues that immediate court intervention is necessary because it faces irreparable harm if the alleged misuse of its confidential information continues before the case is resolved.

    The underlying lawsuit accuses OpenAI and former Apple employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan of misappropriating Apple’s trade secrets to support OpenAI’s consumer hardware ambitions. Reuters reported that Apple alleges the confidential information relates to hardware development that could compete with products such as the iPhone.

    Read more: Apple’s Gemini-Siri Deal Is the Next Microsoft Antitrust Case, Not the Next App Store Fight

    OpenAI rejected Apple’s request for preliminary relief, according to Reuters. The company said the proposed injunction is unwarranted and based on inaccurate allegations, maintaining that it neither possesses nor seeks Apple’s confidential information.

    The dispute highlights growing competition between Apple and OpenAI as both companies pursue next-generation AI-powered consumer devices. Reuters reported that the case reflects broader tensions between the companies as artificial intelligence expands into hardware markets traditionally dominated by established consumer electronics manufacturers.

    The case remains pending before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where the court will determine whether Apple has met the legal standard for obtaining preliminary injunctive relief before the merits of the lawsuit are decided.

    Source: Reuters