Apple has arrived at a settlement with ex-employee Di Liu, who faced allegations of taking thousands of documents before departing for Snap. The lawsuit, submitted in June 2025, asserted that Liu downloaded a considerable amount of trade secrets mere days prior to his exit.
Liu, who was employed at Apple from September 2017 to November 2024, participated in hardware and design engineering for the Apple Vision Pro. As per Apple, Liu failed to notify them about his new position at Snap, permitting him to keep access to proprietary information throughout his customary two-week notice period. Three days ahead of his quitting, Liu reportedly downloaded thousands of confidential documents to his personal iCloud account.
The lawsuit specified that Liu had deceived Apple about his motives for leaving, claiming he wished to concentrate on family and health. Nevertheless, data retrieved from his work laptop suggested he had already secured a role with Snap weeks before his resignation. The examination showed that he utilized his Apple credentials to shift numerous files containing proprietary data to his personal storage.
The case was lodged in the Santa Clara County Superior Court and was recently dismissed following a settlement agreement. Liu has consented to return the confidential information and provide a financial payment to Apple. He openly apologized on LinkedIn for his actions, expressing remorse for the lapse in judgment and the difficulties it caused to others.
Apple is recognized for taking legal steps against former employees who misappropriate trade secrets, having previously engaged in litigation against other individuals for comparable violations.