--- title: "Apple vs. OpenAI Escalates: Apple Seeks Injunction to Halt Use and Return of Confidential Information" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/294857036.md" description: "Apple stated, \"If Apple's trade secrets are widely used by OpenAI and embedded in its products and operational systems, the resulting damage would be irreparable.\" OpenAI stated that Apple's application is based on false information and that it has not stolen any trade secrets. A hearing is scheduled for October 1" datetime: "2026-08-04T18:20:31.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/294857036.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294857036.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/294857036.md) --- # Apple vs. OpenAI Escalates: Apple Seeks Injunction to Halt Use and Return of Confidential Information The legal battle between Apple and OpenAI continues to escalate. **Apple has filed a motion for a temporary injunction with a federal judge, demanding that OpenAI immediately cease using the trade secrets it is accused of stealing and return all related confidential information.** In court documents filed on Tuesday, Apple warned that **"if Apple's trade secrets are widely used by OpenAI and embedded in its products and operational systems, the resulting damage would be irreparable."** The requested injunction would remain in effect throughout the litigation process. OpenAI strongly denied the allegations, **stating that Apple's motion is "based on false information and entirely unnecessary," and asserting that "we do not have, nor do we want, any of their trade secrets."** The impact of this case on the relationship between the two companies cannot be ignored. OpenAI remains a key technology provider for Apple's Apple Intelligence platform and Siri voice assistant. A breakdown in their partnership has raised external concerns about the stability of Apple's AI strategy. ## Apple's Allegations: Employee Stole Confidential Hardware Files In July this year, Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its hardware head, accusing them of launching an "organized campaign" to steal proprietary information related to unreleased products. The lawsuit also named former Apple iPhone engineer Chang Liu, who joined OpenAI in January this year. In its complaint, Apple alleged that while developing hardware devices for OpenAI, Chang Liu discovered an authentication vulnerability and exploited it to continuously access Apple's internal confidential hardware files over several weeks. The injunction Apple is seeking from the court also includes compelling OpenAI to return all confidential information and cease any further actions to obtain private data. The lawsuit also revealed that OpenAI has hired more than 400 former Apple employees to date. Meanwhile, OpenAI's hiring of former Apple Chief Designer Jony Ive to assist in hardware development is also seen as a significant turning point in the deterioration of relations between the two sides. ## OpenAI's Rebuttal: Apple Employee Sought Help Voluntarily, Not Stealing Secrets Regarding the core allegations, OpenAI presented a distinctly different narrative. OpenAI issued a statement on its official website and publicly disclosed part of the text message exchange between Chang Liu and an undisclosed Apple employee. It claimed that a former colleague from Apple voluntarily contacted Chang Liu, requesting assistance in finding information needed for work, rather than Chang Liu actively stealing secrets. In the statement, OpenAI emphasized that the company is "more interested in developing innovative products and technologies that drive frontier progress" than in acquiring internal information from competitors. According to the court schedule, OpenAI must file its response to Apple's injunction motion by August 17, and the judge has scheduled a hearing on the motion for October 1. ### Related Stocks - [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md) - [AAPB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPB.US.md) - [AAPD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPD.US.md) - [AAPU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPU.US.md) - [AAPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPX.US.md) - [AAPW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPW.US.md) - [APLY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/APLY.US.md) - [AAPY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPY.US.md) - [MAGX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MAGX.US.md) - [OpenAI.NA](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/OpenAI.NA.md) ## Related News & Research - [Apple says UK App Store proposal amounts to price regulation](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294231045.md) - [Atlas Wealth LLC Reduces Stake in Apple Inc. $AAPL](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294653023.md) - [Apple Gets Kicked Out of the $5 Trillion Club After Reporting Earnings. Are Fears Over Surging Memory Costs Overblown?](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294587353.md) - [Telegram says app restored on Apple's App Store](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294757751.md) - [Tim Cook Thanks Shareholders on His Final Apple Earnings Call](https://longbridge.com/en/news/294423401.md)