IP agreement | Apple sues ex-employee for passing secrets to new workplace

Apple has taken legal action against Chen Shi, a former Apple Watch division employee, accusing him of stealing trade secrets and passing them to his new employer Oppo.

Court filings show Shi was employed as a Sensor System Architect between January 2020 and June 2025. During that time, Apple said he was trusted with proprietary material, including design documentation, internal specifications, and the product roadmap for Apple Watch.

The company said that Shi was bound by a Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement before starting and reminded of his obligations throughout his tenure.

Alleged misuse of Apple Watch data

According to Apple, Shi resigned in early June, telling colleagues he planned to return to China to see his parents and denying he had employment plans. Before leaving, he allegedly downloaded 63 files from a secure Box folder and transferred them to a USB drive.