Halide co-founder is suing Sebastiaan de With for taking code to Apple | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Halide co-founder is suing former partner for bringing source code to AppleComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...BusinessCloseBusinessPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All BusinessNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechHalide co-founder is suing former partner for bringing source code to AppleSebastiaan de With was allegedly fired for financial misconduct before joining Apple.Sebastiaan de With was allegedly fired for financial misconduct before joining Apple.by Terrence O'BrienCloseTerrence O'BrienWeekend EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Terrence O'BrienMar 21, 2026, 9:02 PM UTCLinkShareGiftHalide running on an iPhone. Photo: Allison Johnson / The VergeTerrence O'BrienCloseTerrence O'BrienPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget.Lux Optics co-founder Sebastiaan de With made headlines when he joined Apple in late January. The company was behind Halide, one of the most popular photography apps for the iPhone, which gained a cult following for its robust pro-level controls.Apple was apparently a big enough fan that it tried to acquire the developer last summer. Those talks never bore fruit, and eventually the company simply hired de With. At the time, it was widely believed that Apple had poached him from Lux. But new allegations from a lawsuit filed by co-founder Ben Sandofsky in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz claim de With was fired for financial misconduct in December of 2025.According to The Information, the suit “accuses de With of improperly using more than $150,000 in Lux corporate funds to pay for personal expenses,” as well as “taking Lux source code and confidential material with him when he joined Apple.”An attorney for de With denied those claims and said that “The attempt to insert Apple into this dispute appears designed to create leverage and attract attention.“Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Terrence O'BrienCloseTerrence O'BrienWeekend EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Terrence O'BrienAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleAppsCloseAppsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppsBusinessCloseBusinessPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All BusinessNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularThe improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is hereThis is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11Gemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressiveGoogle Search is now using AI to replace headlinesThe new MacBook Pro is still fast as hellThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Verge recently reported on a lawsuit filed by Halide co-founder Ben Sandofsky against former partner Sebastiaan de With, alleging significant misconduct prior to de With’s employment at Apple. The central claim revolves around de With taking proprietary source code and confidential materials from Lux Optics, the company behind the popular photography app Halide, when he joined Apple in late January of 2026. This action is compounded by allegations that de With was terminated from Lux in December of 2025 due to the misuse of corporate funds, reportedly exceeding $150,000, for personal expenses.

According to information detailed in The Information, the lawsuit contends that de With improperly utilized company assets for personal gains, further fueling the seriousness of the accusations. The legal action seeks to hold de With accountable for these alleged breaches of trust and the potential intellectual property violations stemming from the transfer of sensitive Lux code to Apple.

Notably, the situation emerged amidst previous attempts by Apple to acquire Halide, a bid that ultimately failed. Following de With’s departure from Lux, Apple seemingly moved to directly recruit him, leading to widespread speculation about a strategic move to capitalize on the app’s innovative features.

Responding to the allegations, an attorney representing de With asserted that the attempt to implicate Apple in this legal dispute was a deliberate strategy aimed at securing leverage and generating publicity. This defense highlights a contested narrative, with Sandofsky accusing de With of exploiting the situation to gain an advantage. The legal proceedings are currently underway, and the ultimate resolution will depend on the evidence presented and the court’s judgment regarding the veracity of the claims made by Sandofsky. The case underscores issues of corporate governance, intellectual property protection, and the complex dynamics involved in talent acquisition within the technology sector.