Core Viewpoint - Apple has filed a lawsuit against OPPO and a former employee, Chen Shi, alleging that they conspired to steal trade secrets related to the Apple Watch [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, naming Chen Shi, OPPO, and its affiliate InnoPeak Technology, Inc. as defendants [1]. - Chen Shi worked as a sensor systems architect at Apple from January 2020 until June 2025, and he allegedly downloaded 63 confidential files just days before leaving Apple to join OPPO [2][12]. - The downloaded files reportedly included sensitive technical implementation plans and information about both current and unreleased Apple products [2][13]. Group 2: OPPO's Response - OPPO has stated that it respects the trade secrets of all companies, including Apple, and has not violated any of Apple's trade secrets [2]. - The company is cooperating with legal proceedings and believes that a fair judicial process will clarify the facts [2]. Group 3: Apple Watch Market Position - Since the launch of the Apple Watch in September 2014, Apple has maintained a leading position in the global smartwatch market, attributed to its design and integration with the Apple ecosystem [4]. - Apple has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance the Apple Watch's features, including advanced health monitoring capabilities [4]. Group 4: Chen Shi's Actions - Chen Shi began communicating with OPPO's health vice president, Dr. Zeng Zijing, in April 2025, prior to officially notifying Apple of his departure [10]. - Evidence presented by Apple indicates that Chen Shi's downloading activity increased significantly in June 2025, with the number of files downloaded nearing the total from the previous five months [12]. Group 5: InnoPeak's Connection to OPPO - InnoPeak is described as OPPO's U.S. research center, with various links and associations between the two entities highlighted in Apple's lawsuit [6]. - The lawsuit mentions that InnoPeak employees have publicly identified themselves as OPPO employees, further establishing the connection [6].

Core Viewpoint - Apple has filed a lawsuit against OPPO and a former employee, Chen Shi, alleging that they conspired to steal trade secrets related to the Apple Watch [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, naming Chen Shi, OPPO, and its affiliate InnoPeak Technology, Inc. as defendants [1]. - Chen Shi worked as a sensor systems architect at Apple from January 2020 until June 2025, and he allegedly downloaded 63 confidential files just days before leaving Apple for OPPO [2][10]. - The downloaded files reportedly included sensitive technical implementation plans and information about unreleased features [2][11]. Group 2: OPPO's Response - OPPO has stated that it respects the trade secrets of all companies, including Apple, and has not violated any of Apple's trade secrets [2]. - The company is cooperating with legal proceedings and believes that a fair judicial process will clarify the facts [2]. Group 3: Apple Watch Market Position - Since the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015, Apple has maintained a leading position in the global smartwatch market, attributed to its design and integration with the Apple ecosystem [4]. - Apple has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance the Apple Watch's features, including advanced health monitoring capabilities [4]. Group 4: Chen Shi's Actions - Chen Shi began communicating with OPPO's health vice president, Dr. Zeng Zijing, in April 2025, prior to officially notifying Apple of his departure [8]. - Evidence presented by Apple indicates that Chen Shi's downloading activity increased significantly in June 2025, with a notable spike in the number of files downloaded compared to earlier months [10]. Group 5: InnoPeak's Connection to OPPO - InnoPeak is described as OPPO's U.S. research center, with various links and associations between the two entities highlighted in Apple's lawsuit [6]. - The lawsuit mentions that InnoPeak employees have publicly identified themselves as OPPO employees, further establishing the connection [6].

Core Viewpoint - Apple has filed a lawsuit against former Apple Watch sensor architect Chen Shi for allegedly stealing trade secrets before joining Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO, which could undermine Apple's competitive advantage in wearable technology [3][7][12]. Group 1: Incident Details - Chen Shi worked as a sensor system architect for Apple Watch from January 2020 to June 2025, earning a monthly salary of $28,000 and was involved in the development of confidential technologies [6]. - Before leaving Apple, Chen Shi misled the company about his intentions, claiming he would return to China to care for his elderly parents and not seek new employment, while he had already accepted a position at OPPO [7]. - Evidence presented in court indicates that Chen Shi held numerous one-on-one meetings with Apple Watch team members to gather information on ongoing research and secretly downloaded 63 confidential files, including critical design documents and algorithms, just days before his departure [8][10]. Group 2: Implications for Apple - Apple argues that allowing Chen Shi and OPPO to benefit from this behavior would jeopardize its commitment to innovation and the value of its trade secrets, potentially giving competitors an unfair advantage [12]. - The health sensor technology is a cornerstone of Apple's market dominance in wearables, with the Series 9 model contributing 62% of the revenue for Apple's wearables division in 2024 [16]. - Apple emphasizes that the algorithms behind its sensor technologies are the result of extensive clinical validation and development, and any leakage could significantly reduce competitors' R&D costs and timelines [17]. Group 3: OPPO's Developments - Chen Shi is now leading a sensor technology development team at OPPO's Silicon Valley research center, where the company has made significant advancements in health tracking technology [11][19]. - OPPO's health tracking capabilities have improved dramatically since acquiring InnoPeak Technology, with their prototype showing a blood oxygen monitoring accuracy that closely resembles Apple's, with a deviation rate of only 1.2% [19]. - The lawsuit highlights a broader trend of employee poaching and trade secret theft involving Chinese companies, with Apple having initiated 17 employee-related lawsuits in the past five years, three of which involved criminal proceedings [20].