Apple sued a former employee on Thursday, alleging that he leaked trade secrets to a reporter and sought favors from the reporter in exchange.
MacBook Pro MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms. EveryMac.com covers earlier 'pre-Unibody' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2006 until 2008, in the Original MacBook Pro Q&A as well as later 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2016 to 2021, in the 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro Q&A and current MacBook Pro models in the 'Apple Silicon' MacBook Pro Q&A. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, below the premium ultra-portable MacBook Air and the powerful MacBook Pro, the MacBook was aimed at the consumer and education markets. It was the best-selling Macintosh ever. For five months in 2008, it was the best-selling laptop of any brand in US retail stores.
The lawsuit was filed against Simon Lancaster in US District Court for the Northern District of California. Lancaster spent 11 years at Apple before taking a job as head of consumer products at Arris Composites in late 2019. Lancaster was advanced materials lead and product design architect at Apple, where he 'was instrumental in the development of the 13'/15' MacBook Pro with the touch bar, and the design of unreleased Apple products,' an Arris Composites press release said at the time.
Apple's lawsuit alleged:
Despite over a decade of employment at Apple, Lancaster abused his position and trust within the company to systematically disseminate Apple's sensitive trade secret information in an effort to obtain personal benefits. He used his seniority to gain access to internal meetings and documents outside the scope of his job's responsibilities containing Apple's trade secrets, and he provided these trade secrets to his outside media correspondent. The Correspondent then published the stolen trade secrets in articles, citing a 'source' at Apple. On multiple occasions, Lancaster proposed that the Correspondent give benefits to Lancaster in exchange for Apple's trade secrets. For example, Lancaster proposed that the Correspondent provide favorable coverage of a startup company in which Lancaster was an investor as a quid pro quo. Lancaster even recruited the Correspondent to serve as his personal investigator. In one instance, Lancaster requested that the Correspondent explore a rumor that could prove harmful to a company in which Lancaster had invested.
Those last two sentences relate to an incident in spring 2019 in which Lancaster told the reporter of his 'displeasure with Apple' due to 'a story published that day that reported a rumor that Apple would produce a new hardware product,' the lawsuit said. 'Shortly thereafter, Lancaster asked the Correspondent to investigate the substance of that story because 'it could mean trouble for my [Lancaster's] startup.' The Correspondent replied, 'I'll see what I can find out.'
Lancaster subsequently 'communicated to a third party that the Correspondent had committed to publishing an article about Lancaster's startup if it obtained $1 million in funding,' Apple said, alleging that 'the Correspondent agreed to publish that article in exchange for Lancaster's ongoing misappropriation of Apple trade secrets.' When he left Apple for Arris Composites, Lancaster asked the reporter to 'write a story about a 12-year Apple Design Veteran leaving for an amazing startup,' Apple said. Whether those stories proposed by Lancaster were published is not made clear in the lawsuit.
We contacted Lancaster about the lawsuit and will update this article if we get a response. The reporter was not named in the lawsuit. Apple said the leaks included 'unreleased Apple hardware products' but did not say which ones.
AdvertisementApple trade secrets
Apple's lawsuit alleged that Lancaster violated the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and the California Uniform Trade Secret Act and breached a confidentiality and intellectual property agreement.
Apple alleged that Lancaster continued giving trade secrets to the reporter after he announced his resignation. 'Lancaster's role as the Correspondent's 'source' deepened even after he announced his resignation from his role at Apple,' the lawsuit said. 'Indeed, Apple's internal investigation of the Apple-owned devices provided to Lancaster as part of his employment shows that after Lancaster announced his resignation, he communicated with the Correspondent regarding specific Apple trade secrets sought by the Correspondent and took specific steps to obtain additional Apple trade secrets.'
Apple is famously secretive about its plans for future products, but details are often reported in advance of announcements because of leaks to journalists.
'The trade secrets Lancaster stole and sent to the Correspondent for publication included details of unreleased Apple hardware products, unannounced feature changes to existing hardware products, and future product announcements, all of which Apple guards closely,' Apple said in the lawsuit. 'Apple's product teams—innovators, designers, and builders—work in complete secrecy, often for many years, and at significant personal burden, all to surprise and delight Apple's customers with their creations. The deceitful and indefensible release of these product details enabled by Lancaster's misappropriation has undermined the morale of the teams that worked on the products and features in question.'
Apple said that a 'forensic review' of Lancaster's work devices show that 'Lancaster and the Correspondent coordinated to pilfer specific documents and product information from Apple. On numerous occasions, the Correspondent had requested Lancaster obtain specific Apple trade secret documents and information. On multiple occasions, Lancaster then sent the Correspondent certain of the requested confidential materials using Apple-owned devices. On other occasions, Lancaster met with the Correspondent in person to provide them with the requested confidential Apple information. The full extent of their conspiracy is presently unknown; however, Apple's investigation is ongoing.'
Apple security measures
Apple said it 'takes all reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality' of its trade secrets, including physical security at buildings, monitoring of computer access, 'requir[ing] all employees to execute strict confidentiality agreements,' and training employees on policies for treatment of confidential information. Apple said that Lancaster signed the company's confidentiality and intellectual property agreement in May 2008.
Lancaster was granted access to confidential information because he had a 'senior role' that involved 'evaluating materials and prototyping innovations to enable future generations of products,' Apple said.
While Apple didn't name Arris Composites directly in the lawsuit, the complaint said that Lancaster's new employer has a vendor service agreement with Apple. 'Portions of the trade secret information Lancaster misappropriated relate directly to his role at his new employer, and it is likely Lancaster's misuse of Apple's trade secrets continues to this day,' Apple alleged. 'In fact, on his last day at Apple, Lancaster downloaded a substantial number of confidential Apple documents from Apple's corporate network onto his personal computer that would benefit his new company.'
The vendor agreement with Apple includes a confidentiality agreement that Lancaster is subject to, Apple said. 'Apple therefore seeks the return of any and all copies of its [trade secrets] and to ensure that Lancaster no longer possesses such data and information and an injunction against any use of that information,' the complaint said.
Arris Composites, founded in 2017, says it makes 'carbon fiber composites that can be combined with other materials such as metals and even electronics.'
In addition to requesting an 'injunction enjoining [Lancaster] from continuing to misappropriate Apple's trade secret information,' Apple asked the court to make Lancaster pay damages, punitive damages, restitution, and attorneys' fees and costs.
'Why I left Apple'
Lancaster wrote favorably of his time at Apple in a November 2019 post on LinkedIn titled 'Why I left Apple and joined Arris Composites.' At Apple, 'I was able to step up and help the engineering product design department take sketches off the drawing board and turn them into real products,' he wrote. 'I fell in love with the magic of certain processes, like additive manufacturing and composites, and would stay on to become Apple's advanced materials lead.'
Lancaster has a few dozen patents from his time at Apple. As Lancaster became an angel investor in startups, 'I realized how much I missed the thrill of the unknown, the journey of exploration that many of these young founders were experiencing,' he wrote. Apple, by contrast, was a 'well oiled machine' that 'works so well it's hard to justify changing it.' Lancaster wrote that Arris will 'show that composites manufacturing is not just something for space shuttles, but can change the products we carry in our pockets and cherish on our desks.'
Retina Display MacBook Pro FAQ @ EveryMac.com
Revision Published January 28, 2021
Also see: MacBook Pro Specs | All Mac Q&As
EveryMac.com's 'Retina Display' MacBook Pro Q&A answers questions about the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 MacBook Pro models that are crafted from a single piece of aluminum and have a 13-Inch or 15-Inch 'Retina Display.'
These notebooks do not have a name on the display bezel (they only have 'MacBook Pro' text on the bottom of the notebook). They also lack an optical drive, so collective identification is possible by these two points alone. However, they additionally can be spotted by model numbers A1398, A1425 and A1502.
Questions range from 'How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?' to 'Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?' and include everything in between.
Please note that all Retina Display MacBook Pro models have been discontinued.
The previous 'Unibody' MacBook and MacBook Pro systems have 'MacBook' or 'MacBook Pro' text on the bottom display bezel and have internal optical drives.
These 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch notebooks are model numbers A1278, A1286, and A1297, respectively.
EveryMac.com offers separate 'Unibody' MacBook Q&A and 'Unibody' MacBook Pro Q&A that cover these earlier models.
EveryMac.com covers earlier 'pre-Unibody' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2006 until 2008, in the Original MacBook Pro Q&A as well as later 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2016 to 2021, in the 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro Q&A and current MacBook Pro models in the 'Apple Silicon' MacBook Pro Q&A.
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Most Frequently Asked Retina Display MacBook Pro Q&As:
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?
How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it the same storage and process as the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it possible?
How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default?
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?
How fast are the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?
What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?
How fast are the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?
Software Compatibility Q&As:
What version of OS X is pre-installed on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run Mac OS X software written for the PowerPC processor?
How do you install software on the Retina Display MacBook Pro without an optical drive?
How do you restore the operating system on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run iPad apps?
Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run Windows or Linux?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (15' Mid-2015):
What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
How fast are the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' Early 2015):
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
How fast are the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Mid-2014):
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Mid-2014' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2014' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Late 2013' models replaced?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Mid-2014' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the MacBook Air?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2014' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Late 2013):
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Late 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are all the differences between the 'Late 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Early 2013' models replaced?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Late 2013' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2013' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Early 2013):
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Late 2012' models replaced?
What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Mid-2012' models replaced?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air? Which is best for me?
How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Early 2013' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Early 2013' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' Late 2012):
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Late 2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?
What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Late 2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro?
How fast are the 13-Inch Retina Display 'Late 2012' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, 13-Inch non-Retina Display MacBook Pro, and 13-Inch MacBook Air 'Mid-2012' models?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2012' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (15' Mid-2012):
What are all the differences between the 15-Inch Retina Display 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models?
Macbook Pro Early 2008 Firmware Update
What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2012' regular MacBook Pro and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro?
How fast are the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?
How fast is the graphics performance of the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to the models replaced?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
Upgrades & Expansion Q&As:
What custom processor options are available for the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Do they have a processor that can be upgraded?
How do you upgrade the RAM in the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What type of RAM do they use? How much RAM do they actually support? Is it even possible to upgrade the RAM?
How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?
Update Macbook Pro 2008
How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it the same storage and process as the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it possible?
Is it possible to add a second SSD or hard drive to a Retina Display MacBook Pro?
Which SD card storage solution is best for the Retina Display MacBook Pro? Which models are compatible? Is this type of storage safe?
What kind of expansion slots are provided by the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
Display & Video Q&As:
How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default?
What type of video processor is provided by the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it 'dedicated' or 'integrated' memory? Is it upgradable?
Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?
How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required?
What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages?
Battery, Power & Connectivity Q&As:
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2013' and 'Mid-2014' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2012' and 'Early 2013' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?
What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2012' and 'Early 2013' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?
How do you replace the battery in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it even possible?
How do you replace the battery in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it more or less difficult than the 15-Inch Retina Display models? Is it possible?
What is the difference between the 'MagSafe 2' power connector on the Retina Display MacBook Pro and the 'MagSafe' power connector on earlier MacBook Pro models? Are they interchangeable?
How is it possible to physically secure the Retina Display MacBook Pro without a security port?
What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages?
What is HDMI?
What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?
Macbook Pro Late 2008 Update
What is 802.11ac? How is it different from 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11g, and 802.11n?
Design, Configuration, & Purchasing Q&As:
Who designed the Retina Display MacBook Pro?
Where can I buy a Retina Display MacBook Pro?
What are the custom configuration options for the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one for me?
What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?
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