Halide Co-Founder Sues Sebastiaan de With Over Code Transfer to Apple
▼ Summary
– Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the Halide camera app developer Lux Optics, was hired by Apple in late January.
– Apple had previously attempted to acquire Lux Optics the prior summer, but the talks were unsuccessful.
– A new lawsuit from Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky alleges de With was fired in December 2025 for financial misconduct.
– The lawsuit specifically accuses de With of misusing over $150,000 in company funds and taking proprietary code to Apple.
– De With’s attorney has denied the allegations, suggesting the suit names Apple to gain leverage and publicity.
When Sebastiaan de With, a co-founder of the popular iPhone photography app Halide, announced his move to Apple in late January, the tech community largely viewed it as a high-profile talent acquisition. His company, Lux Optics, had developed a cult following for its advanced camera controls, making the hire a logical step for Apple’s imaging team. However, a recent lawsuit filed by his former business partner reveals a far more contentious departure, alleging serious financial misconduct and the unauthorized transfer of proprietary code.
The legal complaint, brought by co-founder Ben Sandofsky in a California court, contends that de With was actually terminated in December 2025, not voluntarily poached. The suit claims he misused over $150,000 in corporate funds for personal expenses. More critically for the industry, it alleges he took Lux source code and confidential material with him when he began his role at Apple. This raises significant questions about intellectual property and the nature of his new position.
These allegations cast a different light on earlier events. Reports indicate Apple had attempted to acquire Lux Optics the previous summer, but negotiations ultimately stalled. The company then extended an offer to de With individually. While this was initially seen as a strategic hire, the lawsuit frames it as the culmination of an internal breach. A lawyer for de With has firmly denied all accusations, suggesting the inclusion of Apple in the suit is a tactical maneuver designed to generate pressure and publicity.
The outcome of this case could have implications beyond the two founders, potentially involving Apple in a dispute over trade secrets and proprietary technology. For now, the situation underscores the complex and often messy realities behind what appears from the outside as a straightforward career transition in the competitive world of software development.
(Source: The Verge)
