Apple Sends Legal Letters to Dozens of OpenAI Employees (2 minute read)

# Report: Apple Sends Legal Letters to Dozens of OpenAI Employees Source: [https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/17/apple-sends-legal-letters-openai/](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/17/apple-sends-legal-letters-openai/) Apple has reportedly sent legal letters to dozens of former Apple employees now working at OpenAI, telling them to preserve potentially relevant documents and communications as it continues to pursue its trade secret lawsuit against the AI company\.  The*[Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/content/1b8c9d52-88a9-426b-ba47-f1811f859166)*\($\) reports that Apple has targeted around 40 former employees with legal preservation letters, acting on its belief that the alleged misappropriation of confidential information may extend beyond the individuals named in its original complaint\. The development follows Apple's[lawsuit filed last week against OpenAI](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/10/apple-sues-openai/), in which the company alleges a coordinated effort to obtain confidential information relating to its hardware engineering and product development\. Apple claims OpenAI recruited key engineers, including former Apple executives Tang Tan and Chang Liu, and benefited from proprietary designs, manufacturing processes, and other trade secrets\. Tan is OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer and a 24\-year Apple veteran who led product design, while Liu is on the hardware team at OpenAI after working as a senior system electrical engineer at Apple\. The complaint says that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI and suggests that the alleged misconduct is broader than a few isolated actions by individual employees\. OpenAI has denied the allegations, saying in a statement to*[Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-14/openai-says-it-s-not-aware-of-any-evidence-that-apple-lawsuit-has-merit)*this week that it is "not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit\." Apple has requested an injunction requiring OpenAI to cease using any Apple information during the development of OpenAI's AI hardware device\. Apple is also seeking damages and suing Tan and Liu for breach of contract for violating their employment agreements\. The company believes the evidence uncovered so far may represent only the "tip of the iceberg," according to its lawsuit\. ## Popular Stories ### [UK iCloud Users Could Claim £77 Each as Apple Case Heads to Trial](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/23/apple-3-billion-uk-icloud-case-cleared-for-trial/) Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:49 am PDT by[Tim Hardwick](https://www.macrumors.com/author/tim-hardwick/) A class action lawsuit accusing Apple of overcharging U\.K\. iCloud users has been certified to go ahead, putting the £3 billion \($3\.9 billion\) claim on track for a trial in October 2028\. According to BBC News, the Competition Appeal Tribunal cleared consumer group Which? to bring the case on behalf of an estimated 40 million U\.K\. iPhone and iPad owners, each of whom could receive up to £77\.\.\. ### [Supreme Court Will Hear Apple's Appeal in Epic Games App Store Fight](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/30/apple-epic-games-supreme-court/) Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:34 am PDT by[Juli Clover](https://www.macrumors.com/author/juli-clover/) The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear Apple's appeal against the contempt ruling that forced it to change its App Store linking rules, reports Reuters\. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said the court's decision was welcome news\. This is an important question of law and we are pleased the Supreme Court will hear our case\. Apple asked the Supreme Court to review the decision\.\.\. ### [YouTuber Jon Prosser Responds to Apple's Lawsuit Over iOS 26 Leaks](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/02/jon-prosser-responds-to-apple-leaks-lawsuit/) Jon Prosser today responded to Apple's lawsuit over iOS 26 leaks, with the YouTuber placing much of the blame on his acquaintance Michael Ramacciotti\. As a refresher, Apple sued Prosser and Ramacciotti in July 2025 over alleged theft of the company's trade secrets\. Apple alleged that the duo coordinated to break into former Apple software engineer Ethan Lipnik's development iPhone, in order \.\.\.