How did Apple and OpenAI’s trade-secrets dispute escalate in their Aug 31, 2026 court filings, what does Apple allege former iPhone engineer Chang Liu did with a confidential circuit schematic and Apple cloud data after joining OpenAI, what evidence does Apple say it found on his

The August 31 filings turned Apple’s trade-secrets suit into a fight over both alleged use of its engineering work and preservation of evidence. Apple said a forensic review of former engineer Chang Liu’s Apple-issued MacBook justified faster access to evidence; OpenAI denied that Apple had shown its trade secrets were stolen and sought to defeat the case and limit any injunction. These are competing allegations, not court findings. 123

• Schematic and cloud access: Apple alleges Liu accessed and downloaded a confidential power-converter circuit schematic after joining OpenAI, then used it in his work there. Apple also says Liu—and others at OpenAI—knew he still had unauthorized access to Apple data held by third-party cloud providers. 126
• MacBook evidence: Apple says its initial forensic review of the MacBook Liu retained after leaving found evidence of that use, as well as evidence raising concerns about destruction of case-related material. It alleges Liu instructed OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence; Apple argues that the risk of further loss warrants expedited discovery. The reported findings do not, by themselves, establish that OpenAI directed or carried out evidence destruction. 27913
• OpenAI’s answer: OpenAI denies wanting or using Apple trade secrets and says Apple has not shown that former employees stole confidential information. It argues that Apple’s own security and employee-exit failures—including continued access and Liu’s retention of a company laptop—cannot justify broad restrictions on OpenAI’s work. 19
• What is at stake: Apple seeks expedited discovery and a preliminary injunction to prevent use or disclosure of its alleged secrets; OpenAI seeks dismissal and opposes limits that would impede its physical-device development. A hearing on the injunction request and dismissal motion was scheduled for October 1, 2026. The dispute matters beyond the files themselves because the companies are competing over future AI hardware. 171213