Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) alleges in a June 24 lawsuit that former Vision Pro engineer Di Liu downloaded a massive volume of trade secrets before quietly joining Snap (NYSE:SNAP), a move that could expose Apple’s unannounced AR technologies.
The complaint filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court says Liu resigned under the guise of family and health but used his credentials to pull thousands of documents from Apple systems just three days before his departure.
According to the suit, Liu amassed files covering product design, quality control, cost structures and supply-chain strategiesdata embodied in Apple Vision Pro or not yet released.
Apple claims Liu then uploaded those documents into his personal cloud storage, effectively packing its proprietary R&D into a suitcase bound for a competitor’s lab. Snap, which sells Spectacles wearables, says it’s reviewed the allegations and has no reason to believe they are related to this individual’s conduct at Snap.
This marks Apple’s latest high-profile trade-secret battle following suits in 2021 against a designer accused of leaking to a journalist and in 2022 against chip startup Rivos. Federal authorities also charged a software engineer in 2023 for allegedly stealing thousands of sensitive Apple files.
AAPL shares ticked up 1.10% today amid the news, underscoring investor focus on intellectual-property protection.
Why It Matters: Engineers with inside knowledge are vital to Apple’s AR push, and any leak could narrow its competitive edge in a fast-evolving market. The case also highlights the legal risks companies face when talent jumps between rivals.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.