Apple has filed suit against unnamed individuals who it says have tipped Apple’s hand about new products by posting details on the Internet. The seven-page civil complaint — filed on Dec. 13 with the Santa Clara County California Superior Court — raises more questions than it answers, however.
“Apple has filed a civil complaint against unnamed individuals who we believe stole our trade secrets and posted detailed information about an unannounced Apple product on the Internet,” Apple said in a statement given to MacCentral. “Apple’s DNA is innovation and the protection of our trade secrets is crucial to our success.”
The complaint says that “unnamed individuals” either worked alone or with others and “misappropriated and disseminated through Web sites confidential information about an unreleased Apple product,” according to Reuters.
Apple said in its complaint that it hasn’t identified the individual or others who it thinks did the deed, but said that it would amend the complaint when that came to pass.
Apple declined to comment further on specific details of what products prompted the lawsuit.
Ever since Steve Jobs’ return in 1997, Apple has kept its product plans under wraps until they’re publicly announced. As a result, figuring out what the company has up its sleeve is a favorite sport among some Mac users. The hobby has migrated over time to financial and industry analysts, as well, many of whom are basing their valuation of Apple’s stocks and their estimates of the company’s earning potential on what they think the company might do in 2005.
Update 12/17/04 6:33 pm — Added more details on the statement from Apple. Jim Dalrymple