Apple is getting this wrong

Apple is one of the greatest companies of all time, and built a reputation for obsessing over the smallest details. This careless, aggressive and oddly personal lawsuit sadly doesn’t live up to that reputation.

Apple had claimed that they contacted OpenAI in February and that we didn’t respond. They now admit that their outside lawyers emailed the wrong person after confusing two Asian last names—only after we brought this to their attention. Apple also claimed they had a discussion with our General Counsel, which they now concede never happened. But they again hide the fact that they never raised the specific allegations in this lawsuit at that time, and that they in fact told us that they were “resolving any issues”. We then heard nothing for five months until they sued. In their latest filing, Apple tries hard to spin this sequence of events, but you can just read the emails for yourself here⁠.

Apple accuses Chang Liu of accessing Apple confidential information after leaving the company, but only now admits that Apple employees reached out to him and asked for his help to locate this information (you can read the messages here⁠). Apple now tries to shift the blame to “residual access”, but they also don’t disclose that this is a common issue with Apple which is caused by them failing to properly manage system access when people leave. What that means in practice is that former employees who are trying to do the right thing when they leave still have access to Apple files—despite not wanting them or even being aware of them.

Apple also accuses Tang Tan of trying to get and use their trade secrets. However, Tang has always been clear with the team that we do not want, and must not use, any confidential information from other companies. Tang served Apple for more than 24 years and was widely known as one of the most innovative leaders at the company.

We wish Apple had raised these issues with us before they filed their lawsuit and would have been happy to clarify all of this with them. We have taken the allegations in the lawsuit seriously and offered to work with Apple to resolve this. Instead, they’re trying to change their narrative, including by making vague accusations about other former employees, and will likely keep repeating this tactic.

Apple’s request for a preliminary injunction is both based on false information and completely unnecessary because we do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets. We’re much more interested in building innovative products and technologies that push the frontier.

iMessages between Chang Liu (in blue) and Apple employees, where Chang—whose last day with Apple was January 22, 2026—is being asked by his former colleagues to help them locate files and information to assist them with their Apple work (all times UTC). Note: other individual names and Apple confidential information have been redacted.

1/22/2026 4:43:19 PM

Hey [Apple Employee #1], i had something we need to discuss when you get to office.

1/22/2026 4:43:41 PM

OK. I can talk on the phone now if you like.

1/22/2026 5:48:02 PM

I am here at the office.

1/22/2026 9:39:14 PM

Around your desk

1/22/2026 9:39:34 PM

Be there in 4.

1/22/2026 9:44:34 PM

Do you wanna meet me at the coffee machine?

1/22/2026 11:25:45 PM

I found a 64GB drive. Do you think that will work>

1/22/2026 11:26:59 PM

I think 200 ish. We start from 64. Better than nothing

1/23/2026 12:41:56 AM

Still copying

1/23/2026 5:13:02 PM

Good morning. I hope you slept well. Maybe you are still sleeping 😊 I’m back in the office and restarting the airdrop as it didn’t work. My plan is to complete the airdrop and then click the sad button in workday.

1/23/2026 5:38:25 PM

Liked “Good morning. I hope you slept well. Maybe you are still sleeping 😊 I’m back in the office and restarting the airdrop as it didn’t work. My plan is to complete the airdrop and then click the sad button in workday.”

1/23/2026 5:39:51 PM

Thanks a lot [Apple Employee #1]. Was a very hard night last night. I really appreciate all the help and work together with you.

1/23/2026 5:41:09 PM

If you have time you can also try to airdrop all other file in my apple iCloud folder.

1/23/2026 5:42:22 PM

Those are mainly shared files from other people. I found important detail notes from time to time.

1/23/2026 5:42:59 PM

All the file folders [Redacted - Apple Information] are the file I generated as my personal note.

1/23/2026 7:32:19 PM

Your file transfer is a challenge.

1/23/2026 7:33:24 PM

Carlos Org Travel Summary Chang joined the spreadsheet. I think I’m going to have to hit the workday button before I’m complete. I just got a weird message that is making me nervous (see below), so I am going to go hit the workday button now.

1/23/2026 7:34:53 PM

I don’t even think I have that file

1/23/2026 7:35:03 PM

Maybe the new Chang

1/23/2026 7:35:20 PM

Yeah. . . it could be. No need for you to worry. 😊

1/23/2026 7:35:37 PM

That new Chang has big shoes to fill.

1/23/2026 7:36:18 PM

😟 for the transfer. I think the archive and [Redacted - Apple Information] has most of file for you to dig. Otherwise team can always start from something brand new

1/27/2026 1:45:26 AM

Hey [Apple Employee #1] hope everything is fine for copy pasting. You can keep my icloud connected if you still need more time. But might want to sign off my iMessage. As there might be my new company stuff showing up in that laptop.

1/27/2026 3:06:56 AM

Oh shoot. Sorry. Let me finish up tomorrow and log everything out. I won’t look at anything else.

1/27/2026 3:08:26 AM

Hey [Apple Employee #1], that’s totally ok. I am fine with you keep my icloud signed in for files. Just imessages might get you in trouble.

1/27/2026 4:35:30 AM

Do you recall any discussions on shipping [Redacted - Apple Information]? I thought the plan was to go for [Redacted - Apple Information] because [Redacted - Apple Information] is still not proven, but I don’t remember specific details. Of course, I could ask several folks, but you are the best. Even if you don’t work here anymore 😟

1/27/2026 4:35:46 AM

. . . of course [Redacted - Apple Information] is the plan for [Redacted - Apple Information]

1/27/2026 4:39:27 AM

Hahahah no prob

1/27/2026 4:39:47 AM

The decision is for all the product shipped in [Redacted - Apple Information] from a schedule standpoint.

1/27/2026 4:39:59 AM

Hence [Redacted - Apple Information]. And [Redacted - Apple Information] for [Redacted - Apple Information]

1/27/2026 4:40:30 AM

[Redacted - Apple Information] make a [Redacted - Apple Information] because of that [Redacted - Apple Information] ramp time.

1/27/2026 4:41:06 AM

[Redacted - Apple Information] (es in March) will [Redacted - Apple Information] prototype build but too late for [Redacted - Apple Information].

1/27/2026 4:42:29 AM

Awesome: I was thinking [Redacted - Apple Information] for [Redacted - Apple Information] and [Redacted - Apple Information] for [Redacted - Apple Information]. But since [Redacted - Apple Information] was pushed back then it should get [Redacted - Apple Information] also.

1/27/2026 4:42:41 AM

I think we are aligned 😊

1/27/2026 4:46:06 AM

Actually yes also [Redacted - Apple Information]

1/27/2026 4:46:27 AM

Sorry I missed that. [Apple Employee #8 name] from Austin team is already working on that

1/27/2026 4:47:07 AM

Liked “Actually yes also [Redacted - Apple Information]”

1/27/2026 4:47:10 AM

Liked “Sorry I missed that. [Apple Employee #8 name] from Austin team is already working on that ”

1/30/2026 5:54:31 PM

Hey [Apple Employee #1]! Hope you got all the material you need. Otherwise you might need to reach out to IST for some backup if they ever has

1/30/2026 5:54:41 PM

I rrealize the folder is gone from my iCloud

1/31/2026 1:34:07 AM

I just signed out of your iCloud account. When it asked me if I wanted to keep a copy of your stuff, I said NO.

1/31/2026 2:28:08 AM

Loved “I just signed out of your iCloud account. When it asked me if I wanted to keep a copy of your stuff, I said NO.”

1/31/2026 2:28:18 AM

Thank you sir!

1/31/2026 2:29:23 AM

This startup style company is a funny and will be very hard in a couple months😁😁

2/14/2026 1:38:13 AM

How is it going over there? Did they let you off work early on a Friday so you can go bowling and drink beer?

2/14/2026 1:38:25 AM

. . . . or are they going to work you until 10pm?

2/14/2026 1:39:47 AM

Just in case you don’t have enough work, I need some help. I have a vague recollection of you talking about a [Redacted - Apple Information]. Can you give me a brief refresh of this and point me to an EE who may have some knowledge?

2/14/2026 1:41:25 AM

大笑「Just in case you don’t have enough work, I need some help. I have a vague recollection of you talking about a [Redacted - Apple Information]. Can you give me a brief refresh of this and point me to an EE who may have some knowledge?」

2/14/2026 1:41:51 AM

This place is crazy… hahahah we use Ai all over the place

2/14/2026 1:42:21 AM

I can always give you some fun side projects

2/14/2026 1:44:17 AM

I think what you referred to is [Redacted - Apple Information]. And the small [Redacted - Apple Information].

2/14/2026 1:44:41 AM

The problem is the people is also in my court now 😁😁

2/14/2026 1:45:00 AM

Plus if [Apple Employee #9] might still remember anything

2/14/2026 1:47:39 AM

Liked “I can always give you some fun side projects”

2/14/2026 1:52:30 AM

[Redacted - Apple schematic] Bummer. . . you should have filed a [Redacted - Apple Information] with the details and put that next to the [Redacted - Apple Information] on the schematic. Now you owe me a beer.

2/14/2026 1:53:43 AM

oops now it can only become a [Redacted - Apple Information] saying now we never know why 😁😁

2/14/2026 3:12:57 AM

Now when I think about it. The other smart people also just left that team. The one that might still in apple is [Apple Employee #10]

2/14/2026 3:13:12 AM

Or if you have a more specific question

The following emails are between Apple’s outside counsel, Gabriel Gross; OpenAI’s General Counsel Che Chang; and Apple’s in-house legal counsel. They show that Gross emailed Che by mistake and inaccurately claimed the two had spoken. Both Gross and Apple’s in-house legal counsel subsequently confirmed that this was an error, with Gross noting they were “resolving any issues.” The specific claims in Apple’s lawsuit were never raised, and there was no further follow up prior to the lawsuit being filed five months later.