Judging by the now traditional frequency of Apple releases, the announcement of a new family of iPhone models is expected during the remaining half of this year.
Little of what would originally be a surprise is left for that future launch, as leaked images of a prototype have been circulating since June. Apple identified the leaker and initiated legal action against him.
Information leaks are a common occurrence in the technological environment. Between the commercial context of these spaces and the eagerness of the most enthusiastic, they have fueled this practice for years.
Clearly, these events break the suspicion with which many brands protect some details of their projects, as part of the advertising strategies that are executed.
On June 29, a user of the Weibo social network in China published a series of four photographs corresponding to prototypes of two variants of the yet-to-be-announced iPhone 13. Thanks to this record, it was possible to know in advance its appearance and in particular the layout of the rear camera module.
The Cupertino company’s discomfort was not left in the air. Through the law firm representing the company in China, Fangda Partners, Apple asked the author of the publication to remove the publication of the controversy and also to point out who provided the leaked prototype.
“You have unauthorizedly disclosed a large amount of information related to Apple’s unreleased and rumored products, which constituted a deliberate infringement of Apple’s trade secrets,” the company charges in its letter.
“Through the investigation, Apple has obtained relevant evidence regarding your unauthorized disclosure of Apple’s unreleased and rumored products,” they add. “Your willful infringement specifically manifests itself as: posting unpublished information about Apple’s new products via social media platforms, including, but not limited to, the design and performance of these new products.”
Apple asked the defendant to sign an undertaking document, to comply with the request within 14 days of receiving the letter, under threat of escalating the level of these legal actions if there is no response.
These legal notices from Apple are not a new thing. In 2019, they identified a person advertising and selling stolen next-generation iPhones. According to what was pointed out from anonymity by one of those involved interviewed, he received a letter similar to the one above, with a clear emphasis by Apple to know from where in the supply chain the leak originated.
The company has declined to issue statements to the press regarding this particular new case.
