Apple Inc. has initiated legal proceedings against Di Liu, a former senior design engineer, accusing him of misappropriating a substantial volume of confidential documents related to the Apple Vision Pro headset. The lawsuit alleges that Liu clandestinely transferred these sensitive materials to his personal cloud storage before departing to join Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat.
Allegations of Misconduct
According to the lawsuit, Liu informed Apple that he was resigning to focus on his health and family. However, it is alleged that he had already secured a position at Snap in a role closely aligned with his previous responsibilities at Apple. This undisclosed transition allowed Liu to retain access to Apple’s proprietary information during his notice period. Three days prior to his departure, Liu purportedly downloaded thousands of documents containing trade secrets and uploaded them to his personal cloud storage.
Apple’s Legal Actions
Apple is seeking the return of all misappropriated information and unspecified damages. The company has also requested a court order to access Liu’s devices to ensure compliance, citing concerns that Liu may have attempted to delete logs of his file transfers.
Snap’s Position
Snap Inc. is not accused of any wrongdoing in this matter. A spokesperson for Snap stated that the company has reviewed the claims and has no reason to believe they are related to Liu’s employment or conduct at Snap.
Broader Context
This case is part of a series of legal actions by Apple to protect its intellectual property. In previous instances, Apple has pursued legal action against former employees for similar allegations, including cases involving the Apple Car project and other proprietary technologies.
Implications for the Tech Industry
The lawsuit underscores the ongoing challenges tech companies face in safeguarding trade secrets and confidential information. It highlights the importance of robust internal security measures and the potential legal consequences for employees who violate confidentiality agreements.
