Lawsuit: Halide co-founder accuses Sebastiaan de With of code theft for Apple

Lux Optics Co-Founder Sebastiaan de With Joins Apple Amid Controversy

In a surprising move, Lux Optics co-founder Sebastiaan de With made a significant career shift by joining Apple in late January. De With, known for his involvement in developing Halide, a popular photography app for the iPhone, brought advanced pro-level controls to the app, garnering a dedicated following.

Reports suggest that Apple had expressed interest in acquiring Lux Optics last summer, with discussions ultimately leading to de With being hired by Apple instead. Initially, it was believed that Apple had poached de With from Lux. However, recent revelations from a lawsuit filed by co-founder Ben Sandofsky in the California Superior Court of Santa Cruz have surfaced, alleging that de With was terminated from Lux in December of 2025 due to financial misconduct.

The Information reports that the lawsuit accuses de With of misusing over $150,000 of Lux corporate funds for personal expenses and taking Lux source code and confidential material with him to Apple. These allegations have been vehemently denied by de With’s attorney, who suggests that the mention of Apple in the dispute is a strategic move to gain leverage and attention.