Apple has accused former engineer Chen Shi of leaking confidential Apple Watch technology to Oppo, one of China’s top smartphone brands. The company filed the case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming Shi stole vital trade secrets related to Apple Watch health sensors.
According to Apple, Shi copied 63 confidential files in his final weeks of employment. The stolen data reportedly included information on sensor design, testing, and calibration. Apple says Shi later presented this information in a talk titled “Apple Sensor Hardware Development Philosophy and Methodology” at an Oppo event on August 1, 2025.
Apple believes these actions broke Shi’s confidentiality agreement and gave Oppo an unfair edge in developing similar wearable technology.
Oppo Denies All Allegations
Oppo, through its InnoPeak Technology division, denies all claims. The company says it never used or accessed Apple’s trade secrets. Oppo insists that Shi’s presentation only covered general engineering knowledge, not proprietary Apple data.
Apple disputes that claim. The company says Oppo has not fully cooperated during the investigation. It also alleges that Shi deleted key evidence after the lawsuit began. As a result, Apple has asked the court to block Shi from sharing more data and to stop Oppo from using any potentially stolen information.
Court Orders and What Comes Next
A U.S. judge has ordered Oppo to hand over documents by October 31 or start submitting them from October 28. Shi has agreed to testify but asked for more time, citing health concerns that could worsen under stress.
The case highlights Apple’s growing efforts to protect its intellectual property from global competitors. As the fight continues, the lawsuit could set an important precedent for how tech companies defend innovation in the fast-moving world of wearables.
