Apple’s rumored March event may have been a ploy to catch leakers

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Chess
Apple's playing 4D chess while most of us are playing checkers.
Photo: Unsplash/GR Stocks CC

The misinformation about Apple’s March April special event may have been an attempt by Cupertino to catch out the people leaking information about the company’s plans.

That’s according to Jon Prosser, one of several reporters who shared March 23 as the date of Apple’s next special event. Prosser was so sure of it he even said he’d shave off his eyebrows if he was wrong. Well, he was wrong. But it all may have been a cunning plan from Apple.

In a new edition of his YouTube show Front Page Tech, Prosser owns up to his mistake. He says that it wasn’t a case of himself making up information. Nor was it Apple changing the date due to last-minute technical difficulties or because it wanted to see Prosser without eyebrows.

Instead, Prosser says there never was an Apple event in March. Instead, Apple “leaked” the date to several of its suspected leakers, who then tipped off other reporters. It’s not clear whether different people were given different dates, which could have further narrowed down who was leaking information.

Nonetheless, if Prosser’s correct Apple’s perfectly willing to play things sneaky when it comes to finding out who’s leaking information. When news about the future product launches of a $2 trillion company are at stake, that’s a pretty understandable move to make.

Striking back against leakers

This isn’t the first “shots fired” incident Apple’s been involved with recently when it comes to fighting back against leaks. This month, it filed a lawsuit against a former materials scientist who worked for Apple for 11 years, helping to design upcoming products. Apple alleges that the engineer, Simon Lancaster, leaked company secrets to the media. Apple’s complaint notes that:

“Lancaster’s misappropriation … disadvantages Apple with respect to its competitors. With access to valuable Apple information, Apple’s competitors can anticipate Apple’s future course of action.”

Apple is requesting that he be forced to pay damages, along with Apple’s legal fees.

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