Apple has filed a lawsuit against former senior product design engineer Di Liu, alleging he stole thousands of confidential documents related to its $3,500 Vision Pro headset during his notice period before joining Snap’s product design team. Apple claims the stolen files have likely aided Snap’s AR developments. Apple Vision Pro trade secrets highlights this escalating legal battle over proprietary innovation.
📂 Allegations & Timeline
- Filed on June 24, 2025, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, the complaint states Liu resigned on October 30, 2024—citing health reasons—while secretly accepting an offer from Snap on October 18.
- Apple says Liu used his still-active credentials to download confidential files into a “Personal” and “Knowledge” cloud storage folder, selectively copying and deleting evidence.
⚙️ Potential Impact
- The stolen data included design schematics, internal codenames, R&D insights, supply chain details, and unreleased Vision Pro architectures
- Apple warns that the overlap between those documents and Snap’s upcoming AR Spectacles products “suggests intent to use Apple’s proprietary information at Snap.”
📣 Legal Demands
- Apple seeks unspecified financial damages, return of all misappropriated files, and a forensic review of Liu’s personal devices and cloud accounts.
- Snap is not named in the suit, and has stated it “has no reason to believe” any of Liu’s alleged actions are linked to his work at Snap.
🧩 Context & Company Stance
- This is the latest in a série of high-profile IP lawsuits from Apple—following earlier cases against ex-engineers and startups accused of misappropriating confidential details.
- Apple says Liu’s actions were deliberate and strategic, emphasizing the company’s culture of secrecy and strict control of internal information access. indiatoday
✅ Why It Matters
| Factor | Implication |
|---|---|
| AR market race | The Vision Pro represents a multi-billion dollar step for Apple, and leaks could accelerate Snap’s competitive timeline. |
| IP security protocols | Raises questions about offboarding procedures and credential revocation practices. |
| Legal precedent | Could influence future safeguarding measures and litigations across tech sectors. |
🔭 What to Watch
- Court proceedings: Apple will aim to prove infringement intent and seek damages—Snap may be called to testify.
- Damage control: Snap’s denial suggests it may distance itself, but internal conflict could emerge.
- Policy changes: Expect tighter internal control and stricter offboarding procedures at Apple and other tech firms.
✅ Summary
Apple’s lawsuit against ex-engineer Di Liu alleges he stole and shared Vision Pro trade secrets with Snap during his transition—a move that could impact AR innovation and intellectual property protection standards. With Apple demanding damages and the return of files, the case underscores how high-stakes and fiercely guarded the AR competition has become.
