Apple has filed a lawsuit against Chinese consumer electronics company Oppo, claiming that the company poached a member of its Apple Watch team to steal trade secrets related to sensors and silicon chips.
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, targets Dr. Cheng Shi, a former sensor system architect at Apple, along with his new employers, Oppo and California-based Innopeak. Dr. Shi now leads a team developing sensing technology at Oppo’s U.S. office.
Allegations Against Dr. Shi
According to Apple, Dr. Shi was a highly compensated engineer from January 2020 until June 2025. The company alleges he had access to confidential information about its health sensor technology, including sensitive roadmaps and specifications for ECG sensors used in Apple Watches.
Apple claims Dr. Shi downloaded 63 confidential documents from the company’s shared drive onto a USB drive just three days before his departure. These documents reportedly contained sensitive information about upcoming products and technical specifications for Apple’s sensor technologies.
Before transferring the documents, Dr. Shi’s internet search history allegedly included queries about wiping a MacBook and checking file access on a shared drive.
Additionally, Apple accuses Dr. Shi of stealing technical information from the team responsible for developing its custom silicon chips, which are crucial for products like the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Oppo, known for its advanced smartphones, faced criticism in 2020 for launching a device considered an Apple Watch clone. While not yet a competitor to Apple’s iPhones, Oppo performs well in Asian markets, particularly China, where it has gained market share at Apple’s expense. However, recent reports indicate that iPhone sales surged to the top spot in China in May 2025.
Oppo operates a research center in Silicon Valley but does not conduct business in the U.S. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.
ICYMI: Bank of Ghana urges Media to Simplify Economic Reporting
Evidence Presented by Apple
Apple cites evidence from Dr. Shi’s work-issued phone, which allegedly shows communications with Oppo’s senior leadership from April 2025 until his departure. In messages included in the lawsuit, Dr. Shi reportedly stated, “This week I’ll inform my team about my resignation,” and mentioned reviewing internal materials to gather information.
In the month before his resignation, Dr. Shi allegedly scheduled 33 one-on-one meetings about projects he was not involved in, a significant increase from the average of seven such meetings per month a year earlier. When he resigned, Dr. Shi informed colleagues that he was returning to China to care for his elderly parents and did not mention starting a new job with Oppo.
Apple is seeking an injunction to prevent Oppo from using its trade secrets and is requesting restitution and damages to be determined at trial.
SOURCE: GIZMODO
