Apple’s Effort to Acquire Halide for iPhone 18 Pro Camera Faces Lawsuit
Reported by Filmogaz.com, Apple held acquisition talks with Lux Optics in the summer of 2025. Lux Optics is the developer of Halide, Kino, and Spectre camera apps for iPhone.
Negotiations and strategic intent
Apple reportedly viewed Lux’s intellectual property as a key factor during those talks. The company wanted technology to strengthen the built-in Camera app.
Upgrading the Camera app was tied to the iPhone 18 Pro Camera roadmap. Apple aimed for features that match professional-grade cameras.
Post-talk hiring and staff changes
Talks ended without a deal. Two months later, Apple recruited Lux co-founder and designer Sebastian de With.
Lux CEO and co-founder Ben Sandofsky later fired de With in December. The dismissal cited alleged financial misconduct.
Legal action filed in California
Sandofsky filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz. The complaint accuses de With of improper use of more than $150,000 in company funds since 2022.
The suit also alleges de With provided Lux confidential material and source code to Apple. Apple is not named as a defendant in the case.
Allegations and claims
According to the complaint, payments were made for personal expenses. The suit states these transfers began in 2022.
It further claims Lux intellectual property was shared with Apple after the talks collapsed. The filing links the alleged conduct to post-negotiation hiring.
Defense response and counterclaims
De With’s legal team described the lawsuit as meritless. They deny any use, transfer, or disclosure of Lux intellectual property to Apple.
They also say the complaint followed de With raising concerns about Lux’s financial practices. His team calls the suit retaliatory and aimed at avoiding scrutiny.
Context: Apple’s effort to acquire Halide and the iPhone 18 Pro Camera
The wider context shows Apple’s effort to acquire Halide tied to camera ambitions. The company prioritized the Camera app as it preps iPhone 18 Pro features.
While negotiations and hiring moved quickly, the legal dispute now complicates the story. The case will proceed in Santa Cruz County court.
