by , 5:45 PM EST, December 17th, 2004
Reuters is reporting that Apple has filed a lawsuit against anonymous people who have leaked information about unannounced products on Mac rumor sites. The lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara County, California Superior Court
According to Reuters, Apple's suit said that "an unidentified individual, acting alone or in concert with others, has recently misappropriated and disseminated through Web sites confidential information about an unreleased Apple product."
In a statement provided to The Mac Observer, Apple said, "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's DNA is innovation, and the protection of our trade secrets is crucial to our success."
The John Doe lawsuit is similar to one filed in 2000 against anonymous John Does who had posted leaked product information on Mac forums, including one poster known as "worker bee."
As was the case with that suit, Apple does not know the identity of the current leakers, but court documents said the company will amend its complaint when learns the identity.
Recent stories have circulated about products that the rumor sites say will be announced at next month's Macworld San Francisco, and Apple's lawsuits may be related to those stories.