Apple has filed a major trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, but with a significant omission.
The suit, filed July 10th, alleges OpenAI ran a systematic campaign to recruit over 400 former Apple employees, siphoning confidential information, product designs, and manufacturing processes. The complaint specifically names OpenAI's chief hardware officer, Tang Tan, accusing him of leading the effort. It claims some departing staff retained Apple laptops and accessed sensitive files after leaving.
The most strategic element is the exclusion of legendary designer Jony Ive. His startup, io, was acquired by OpenAI in May 2025 for roughly $6.5 billion in an all-equity deal, bringing Ive into OpenAI's hardware ambitions. Apple's decision to omit him suggests either a lack of direct evidence or a desire to avoid suing its former icon.
This legal clash comes at a critical time for OpenAI. The company has been exploring an initial public offering, and this lawsuit introduces significant uncertainty. If Apple's claims are proven, remedies could restrict OpenAI's use of certain designs, a major setback for the company that paid billions to acquire hardware capabilities through the io deal.
The key question is whether this case settles quietly or proceeds to a trial that could reveal both companies' hardware strategies in public court filings.