Apple sues OpenAI over ‘pervasive’ theft of trade secrets

Published July 10, 2026 4:49pm ET | Updated July 10, 2026 4:58pm ET



Apple filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing its trade secrets on Friday, namely, proprietary information that could be used to benefit the top artificial intelligence firm.

The civil complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI “turned to trade secret misappropriation to free-ride off Apple’s decades of innovation” and poached two former Apple employees who breached Apple’s Intellectual Property Agreement.

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