Apple earlier accused a member who was responsible for the development of Apple Watch-related technologies of leaking trade secrets related to sensing technology and bringing them to the Chinese brand OPPO.
Apple's lawsuit alleges that former Apple Watch team member Chen Shi served as the Apple Watch sensor system architect from January 2020 until his departure in June 1. During this time, Chen Shi was primarily involved in the design and integration of several key sensors, including optical sensors, body temperature sensors, and health monitoring technologies such as electrocardiogram (ECG) support.
Apple said that Chen Shi had started looking for his next job as early as April 2025 and had been in contact with OPPO, but when communicating with the company about the reason for his resignation, he used the reason of "returning home to take care of elderly parents" and claimed that he had no plans to join other companies. However, before leaving, he not only frequently arranged multiple separate meetings with Apple Watch team members to inquire about R&D progress and technical details, but also downloaded as many as 4 files from a protected folder within the company and saved them on a USB flash drive.
The lawsuit further alleges that Chen Shi had searched for phrases such as "How do I clear my MacBook data?" and "Can anyone track whether I have shared cloud files?", suggesting he may have deliberately attempted to conceal his actions. Apple also stated that it has information on messages allegedly sent by Chen Shi to OPPO and stated it will "collect as much information as possible regarding health sensing technology."
In this regard, OPPORespond to MacRumors, emphasizing that there is currently no evidence that the employee has improperly used or taken Apple technical information since joining the company, and that he has not stolen Apple trade secrets. However, Apple obviously does not accept this statement and has named OPPO as a co-defendant.
This is not the first time Apple has taken legal action against former employees. Earlier this year, Apple also sued another former design engineer, accusing him of leaking Vision Pro-related development details to his new employer Snap after leaving the company, highlighting Apple's high level of vigilance against the outflow of core R&D technology.
As emerging fields like smart wearables and augmented reality become a key focus for technology companies, related sensing technologies and health monitoring capabilities are crucial for market differentiation. Apple Watch has historically differentiated itself through its accuracy and comprehensive health tracking capabilities. These developments often require years of research and development and significant financial investment, making them among Apple's most valuable assets. Therefore, any concerns regarding trade secrets could directly impact product development and market competition.
