Apple pushes back against OpenAI’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit, again alleging widespread trade secret misappropriation.

Apple filed this new response on August 19, 2026, in the U.S. District Court

Basically says says OpenAI’s dismissal bid sidesteps detailed claims involving downloaded files, recruiting interviews, and supplier secrets.

At this stage, the judge is testing whether Apple has pleaded a plausible legal claim, not deciding which side’s factual account will ultimately prevail.

Apple alleges Chang Liu exploited an authentication bug after joining OpenAI, downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files, and celebrated the access with “LOL ... so funny.”

Apple also alleges Tang Yew Tan used an internal codename to probe an unreleased product and asked candidates to bring internal Apple parts for “show and tell.”

Separately, the filing says OpenAI personnel used Apple’s manager offboarding procedures as a checklist giving recruits advance notice of forensic and security checks.

Apple extends the accusation to OpenAI itself, saying interviews sought CAD artifacts, prototypes, component choices, and vendor details.

It further alleges OpenAI used confidential knowledge to get an Apple partner to perform a proprietary metal-finishing process for OpenAI.