It was announced today that the Mac rumors website Think Secret will be shutting down. The shut down was a condition of the confidential settlement between Think Secret and Apple. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”
Three years ago Think Secret was sued by Apple for allegedly stealing trade secrets and publishing these trade secrets on the popular mac rumors website. Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that Think Secret illegally solicited Apple employees to break confidentiality agreements and provide trade secrets to be published on the Think Secret.
Think Secret was published by Nick Ciarelli under the pen name Nick dePlume. Ciarelli had published Think Secret since the age of 13.