Apple rumours confirmed by new lawsuits?

In its latest lawsuit seeking to clamp down on leaks, Apple has added credibility to several hot rumours, including plans to offer a cheaper Mac and its own line of office software.

Apple yesterday sued the publisher of Mac enthusiast site ThinkSecret.com and other unnamed individuals, alleging that recent postings on the site contain Apple trade secrets.

The suit, filed in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California, aims to identify who is leaking the information and to get an injunction preventing further release of trade secrets. However, specific mention of "trade secrets" appears to indicate that at least parts of those reports are spot on.

Apple said in a statement that the company's "DNA is innovation, and the protection of our trade secrets is crucial to our success".

"Apple has filed a civil complaint against the owner of ThinkSecret.com and unnamed individuals who we believe stole Apple's trade secrets," Apple said in its statement. "We believe that Think Secret solicited information about unreleased Apple products from these individuals, who violated their confidentiality agreements with Apple by providing details that were later posted on the internet."

A Think Secret representative did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In its suit, Apple specifically lists certain articles that contain confidential information, though it does not confirm which of the article's details are true. For example, when mentioning the report that Apple plans a "G4-based iMac without display", Apple says the article "disclosed numerous confidential details regarding the technical capabilities of Apple's unreleased computer product as well as Apple's confidential marketing plans".

Similar confirmation is offered regarding iWork, which ThinkSecret.com said on 31 December would be a suite of office software combining Apple's Keynote presentation program with a new document creation application called Pages. "The postings on Think Secret included detailed technical specifications and product code names," the lawsuit maintains. "Apple had maintained and protected this Future Product Information as trade secrets."

In the suit, Apple outlines the damage that leaks cause, noting that disclosures give competitors a head start and hurt the buzz created around its products. "Unauthorised disclosures diminish the interest of both the mainstream and trade media in the launch of a new product," Apple said.

Apple claims in the suit that such clampdowns are not unconstitutional or in breach of the First Amendment.

"By this action, Apple does not seek to discourage communication protected by the free-speech guarantees of the United States and California constitutions," Apple said in the suit.

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Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com.