Apple may be about to win the first real round in its legal fight with OpenAI. On October 14, 2026, US District Judge Edward J. Davila said he is “highly likely” to grant Apple a preliminary injunction against OpenAI, io Products, and two former Apple employees.
What the judge said and why it matters
Apple filed the trade-secret lawsuit on July 10, 2026, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The case number is 5:26-cv-07078-EJD.
The defendants are OpenAI, io Products, and two people who used to work at Apple: Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan. Liu is a former Apple engineer. Tan is now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer, and he previously served as Apple’s VP of product design.
Apple alleges the defendants ran a coordinated effort to take confidential hardware knowledge from the company. That allegedly includes product designs and manufacturing processes. The claimed goal, according to Apple’s complaint, was to speed up OpenAI’s progress in consumer hardware.
The specific accusations differ by person. Apple alleges Liu mishandled Apple data after leaving the company. Tan is accused of using his Apple knowledge to help drive OpenAI’s hardware development.
A busy two days in court
On October 13, 2026, Judge Davila partially granted Apple’s request for expedited discovery. That order requires production of forensic images and communication records. The judge also authorized early depositions for four key individuals, including Liu and Tan.
How OpenAI ended up in the hardware business
The centerpiece of OpenAI’s hardware effort was its 2025 acquisition of io Products for approximately $6.4 billion. OpenAI’s plans reportedly include a high-end speaker it aims to release in 2027.
What this means for OpenAI, Apple, and the AI hardware race
If the injunction is granted, OpenAI’s hardware team would likely need to show that its work does not rely on the disputed Apple information. OpenAI has a 2027 speaker target on the calendar.
The depositions of Liu and Tan will be closely watched. Tan in particular, as chief hardware officer, sits at the center of OpenAI’s device ambitions.
OpenAI denied Apple’s accusations, labeling them as groundless and retaliatory. The things to watch next are the formal injunction ruling, the scope of any restrictions it imposes, and what emerges from discovery and the early depositions.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Diego Almada Lopez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.