Halide Co-Founder Sues Sebastiaan de With for Alleged Code Theft to Apple

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The co-founder of Lux Optics, the company behind the popular iPhone photography app Halide, has filed a lawsuit against former co-founder Sebastiaan de With. The lawsuit alleges de With misused over $150,000 in corporate funds for personal expenses and took confidential Lux source code with him when he joined Apple's design team. This dramatic turn of events comes after Apple's previous attempts to acquire Lux Optics, signaling the tech giant's strong interest in enhancing the iPhone's camera capabilities.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing importance of computational photography and pro-level mobile photography tools, as well as the competitive landscape around acquiring innovative camera software and talent. The outcome could impact Apple's future camera software development and the broader market for advanced mobile photography apps.

The details

The lawsuit, filed in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz, accuses de With of financial misconduct and theft of Lux's confidential source code. This comes after reports that Apple had considered acquiring Lux Optics last summer, likely to bolster the iPhone's camera features. When a full acquisition didn't materialize, Apple hired de With, which was initially seen as a straightforward talent acquisition. However, the lawsuit paints a different picture, alleging de With was terminated for the financial improprieties and that he took Lux's proprietary code with him to Apple.

• In the summer of 2025, Apple reportedly considered acquiring Lux Optics, the company behind the Halide app.
• In early 2026, Sebastiaan de With left Lux Optics to join Apple's design team.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The outcome of the lawsuit filed by Ben Sandofsky against Sebastiaan de With will determine the impact on Apple's future camera software development and the broader market for advanced mobile photography apps.