Apple Looks For Partnerships To Thwart Leaks

People get really, really excited about Apple products. So much so, that rumors sometimes dominate the discussion ahead of the actual launch of the device. As awesome as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are, their launch was a touch anticlimactic, since we'd already seen the two devices leaked to death. According to a new report, we may not get to see as much info ahead of time, as Apple may have asked accessory makers to get their info directly from Apple ahead of making cases or other accessories.Case makers like Spigen often use pre-release specs to design and build cases, then use them to tease us — or, really, get us to buy their stuff. Apple-centric blog 9to5Mac is reporting that late last year, Apple reached out to accessory makers, and asked them to source Apple for device schematics and blueprints rather than go through the supply chain or other sources.

Though some are looking at the alleged agreement as Apple's way of getting a stranglehold on leaks, it's probably a means of more tightly controlling their partnerships, and getting better accessories out early. Like their MFi program, Apple would probably rather partners get info from them rather than info that could be slightly off or downright wrong.

The problem, on paper, is that official schematics aren't publicly released until a product is launched. It's pretty standard fare for iPhone users to immediately wrap their tech investment in some sort of case, often buying the case before the phone itself. If case makers had to wait until launch for schematics, we wouldn't see cases for weeks after launch of the device.

Again, like the MFi program, Apple could provide early info regarding the incoming deices, so long as partners adhered to understandings about marketing or 'leaking' info.

Source: 9to5Mac