Apple Computer has filed suit against three individuals it alledges posted illegal test versions of its next version of Mac OS X, code-named "Tiger", it was reported Tuesday.

The Reuters news agency reported (link attribution: MacMinute) the three unidenitifed men, members of Apple Developer Connection, posted copies of the operating system on the Internet on or about Oct. 30 and Dec. 8 of this year in BitTorrent format.

"Members of Apple Developer Connection receive advance copies of Apple software under strict confidentiality agreements, which we take very seriously to protect our intellectual property," the company said in its civil complaint. "Appleis future operating results and financial condition are substantially dependent on its ability to continue to develop improvements to the Mac OS and related software applications in order to maintain perceived design and functional advantages over competing platforms."

The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose.

On Dec. 13 Apple filed a lawsuit against unnamed individuals who leaked details about new products by posting information on the Internet. As reported first by TMO on Monday, Apple was granted a request to serve subpoenas on three Mac rumor Web sites seeking information on who leaked facts about an un-announced audio hardware product code named "Asteroid" or "Q97".

"Apple has filed a civil complaint against three individuals who posted prerelease versions of Mac OS X version 10.4 iTigeri to a file-swapping website," Apple said in a statement provided to The Mac Observer. "Members of Apple Developer Connection receive advance copies of Apple software under strict confidentiality agreements, which we take very seriously to protect our intellectual property."