If Apple prevails, Oppo could be barred from using the stolen technology, and Shi may face damages for breach of contract, with forensic audits potentially determining if stolen data has been incorporated into Oppo’s products.

Apple argues that the transfer of stolen technology could give Oppo an unfair advantage, allowing them to bypass years of research and development and plan competing products in advance.

Apple emphasizes that allowing such activities to go unpunished would undermine its investments in innovation, especially in health sensors like ECG, temperature, and blood oxygen monitoring, which differentiate the Apple Watch.

Apple has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against former employee Dr. Chen Shi, accusing him of stealing trade secrets related to the Apple Watch and sharing them with Chinese tech giant Oppo.

Internal communications reveal Shi was actively collecting proprietary information for Oppo, with an Oppo VP indicating approval, and he attempted to erase evidence of his activities before transferring data.

This legal dispute highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property and could influence industry practices, especially as the wearables market is projected to surpass $100 billion globally by 2026.

Oppo has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit, but the case underscores the critical need for security measures to safeguard innovation in the fiercely competitive wearable tech industry.

The outcome of this case could significantly impact Apple’s technological advancements and Oppo’s market strategies, with proceedings expected to unfold in the U.S. court system in the coming months.

Apple’s success in this lawsuit could deter employee poaching and strengthen its competitive edge, while a loss might embolden rivals to pursue less ethical methods of innovation.

This case adds to Apple’s ongoing legal battles, including a dispute with Masimo over smartwatch technology that has been ongoing since 2020.

Oppo, a major Chinese smartphone manufacturer with a 15.5% market share in Q2 2025, entered the smartwatch market in 2020, amid China’s rapidly growing wearable market, which shipped over 43 million units in 2024.