Apple is getting this wrong

What happened

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.

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

I can talk on the phone now if you like. Do you wanna meet me at the coffee machine? I found a 64GB drive. Do you think that will work> I think 200 ish. We start from 64. Better than nothing 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. Thanks a lot [Apple Employee #1]. Was a very hard night last night. I really appreciate all the help and work together with you. If you have time you can also try to airdrop all other file in my apple iCloud folder. Those are mainly shared files from other people.

I found important detail notes from time to time. All the file folders [Redacted - Apple Information] are the file I generated as my personal note. Your file transfer is a challenge. 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. Yeah. . it could be. No need for you to worry. 😊 That new Chang has big shoes to fill. 😟 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 Oh shoot. Sorry. Let me finish up tomorrow and log everything out. I won’t look at anything else. 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. .

Why it matters

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.

What to watch

of course [Redacted - Apple Information] is the plan for [Redacted - Apple Information] The decision is for all the product shipped in [Redacted - Apple Information] from a schedule standpoint. Hence [Redacted - Apple Information]. And [Redacted - Apple Information] for [Redacted - Apple Information] [Redacted - Apple Information] make a [Redacted - Apple Information] because of that [Redacted - Apple Information] ramp time.

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