Apple Sues Employee for Stealing Trade Secrets Apple is suing a former employee who it claims leaked company trade secrets to a media outlet for over a year for his own personal gain. Former advanced materials lead and product design architect Simon Lancaster is accused of abusing his position to access information outside of his job scope. He allegedly exchanged the data he stole for payment and positive media coverage of a startup business. Court documents unsealed in federal court in California on March 11 state: "Despite over a decade of employment at Apple, Lancaster abused his position and trust within the company to systematically disseminate Apple's sensitive trade secret information in an effort to obtain personal benefits.