FCC accidentally leaked iPhone schematics, potentially giving rivals a peek at company secrets

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accidentally published a 163-page PDF containing the electrical schematics for the iPhone 16e, despite Apple's request for confidentiality. The documents included detailed information such as block diagrams, electrical schematic diagrams, and antenna locations, which could potentially give competitors an unfair advantage. Apple had specifically requested the FCC to keep the documents confidential, citing them as "confidential and proprietary trade secrets" that could provide rivals with an unfair advantage if released. The FCC has not yet addressed how this leak occurred, but it was likely due to an incorrect setting in a database, rather than an intentional act against Apple. The leak could eliminate any guesswork for competitors, as they could simply buy an iPhone 16e and open it up to access the detailed schematics. However, Apple is known for being highly litigious when it comes to patent infringement, so any attempt to use the leaked information may face legal consequences.