Summary: Apple filed suit in Northern District of California Former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan named Allegations include unauthorized access and confidential data misuse   Apple on July 10 sued OpenAI and two former employees, alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets to benefit the ChatGPT-owner's foray into consumer hardware, a dramatic escalation of already simmering tension between the two companies. The complaint accuses OpenAI of orchestrating a broad effort to systematically acquire and exploit Apple's confidential information through former employees, recruiting practices and supplier relationships to accelerate its push into the consumer hardware business. The lawsuit sets up a battle over who will control future AI devices that may not use traditional apps or operating systems — devices which, if successful, would direct consumer attention away from Apple's best-selling iPhone. Analysts believe OpenAI is working on a phone or other device of its own. Tensions between the two tech companies have strained their relationship, as the race to develop AI products has intensified competition for talent and proprietary technology. Apple's lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, comes just after OpenAI successfully fended off a legal challenge from Elon Musk's xAI. The two former Apple employees named in the suit are Chang Liu, a former senior system electrical engineer, and former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch, Tang Yew Tan. Neither immediately responded to a request for comment. Apple alleged that Liu failed to return a company-issued work laptop and later used an authentication bug to access Apple's internal network, downloading "dozens of Apple's confidential hardware-related files." The iPhone maker also claimed that OpenAI’s hardware chief Tan had been "methodically using Apple’s confidential information to benefit OpenAI" before his departure by emailing himself information about Apple suppliers and internal industry summaries. Tan worked on the iPhone for most of his 24-year tenure at Apple, according to his LinkedIn page. Apple alleged that Tan encouraged Apple employees to bring parts from Apple to job interviews at OpenAI for “show and tell” sessions, citing an incident in its filing where one OpenAI job candidate allegedly said that he “didn’t even know we could take those from the office.” OpenAI Foundation, OpenAI Group PBC, the company's commercial arm, and io Products, which OpenAI acquired, were also named as defendants.

Summary: New York Attorney General Letitia James files lawsuit Defendants include 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, EIDP PFAS linked to cancer and immune system effects New York sued 3M, DuPont and other companies on July 9 for harming the environment and people's health by selling "forever chemicals" that they knew were toxic, for use in consumer products. The state's Attorney General Letitia James accused the companies of hiding the risks of chemicals known as PFAS from the public for decades, even as they began phasing out some of the chemicals. She also said the defendants did nothing to materially reduce the public nuisance that their manufacture and sale of the chemicals contributed to for decades. Other defendants include Chemours, Corteva and EIDP, which were part of DuPont prior to spinoffs. James wants the companies to fund cleanup efforts, properly warn consumers about the risks, and pay damages, restitution and civil fines. The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit was filed in a state court in Albany, New York's state capital. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products including cosmetics, non-stick pans and stain-resistant clothing. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the human body or environment. PFAS have been linked to negative health effects including higher cholesterol, low birth weight, reduced antibody response to vaccines, and kidney and testicular cancer. In May 2025, 3M agreed to pay New Jersey up to $450 million over 25 years to settle claims its forever chemicals contaminated drinking water in the state. Last month, Chemours reached a $450 million settlement with the U.S. government to resolve charges its chemicals polluted waterways in New Jersey, North Carolina and West Virginia. Though Chemours' settlement was the federal government's first to resolve pollution claims against a maker of PFAS, some environmental groups called it inadequate. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson, both Democrats, called the accord reached with President Donald Trump's administration a "backroom deal" that did "virtually nothing" to help their state's residents. In May, Trump's U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would roll back some limits on PFAS in drinking water that former President Joe Biden's administration established in 2024.

Summary: California Attorney General Rob Bonta leads investigation Paramount's $110 billion acquisition faces multi-state lawsuit Paramount CEO David Ellison agrees to $650 million quarterly fee if delayed   U.S. states concerned that Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will hurt competition could sue to block the deal as soon as next week, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken the lead in investigating whether the deal violates U.S. laws against mergers that would unlawfully harm competition. The deal, which would combine two of Hollywood's four ⁠major studios, has drawn criticism from actors, writers and others in Hollywood who fear job losses. Theater owners also oppose the combination of the Warner Bros movie studio, maker of the "Harry Potter" and "Superman" films, with Paramount Pictures, and have expressed concern the merger would result in fewer movies, narrowing consumer choice and eroding competition. Paramount has said that combining forces with Warner Bros would allow the media company to tackle mounting competition for audiences, talent and investment. Paramount CEO David Ellison has sought to assuage the concerns of theater owners, saying the combined film studios would release 30 movies a year. If the deal is delayed because of a court challenge, costs could mount for Paramount, which is already expected to carry around $80 billion in debt after the transaction closes. Ellison has agreed to pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a 25-cent-per-share "ticking fee," amounting to about $650 million in cash each quarter, if the deal does not close before October. In early June Reuters reported California, New York and other U.S. states were preparing a lawsuit as state officials look to step up their scrutiny of big mergers and acquisitions as federal antitrust authorities have loosened their reins. Analysts have said Paramount's political connections and other factors gave it an easier road to regulatory clearance from federal antitrust watchdogs in the U.S. The Paramount CEO's father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated ties with President Donald Trump. Not all lawsuits seeking to block mergers succeed. But they can delay the consummation of deals by months if a judge issues an order pausing the merger while the case plays out. Given that multiple states are coordinating, it is possible the timeline for filing the lawsuit could change. A court could order Paramount and Warner to hold their assets separate, delaying the $6 billion in cost cuts that Paramount has said it would make after the deal closes.