Apple has cut some staff working on its Final Cut video editing software suite, according to a report by a video industry insider.

“Apple laid off 40 of my old Final Cut team yesterday, lots of good people, despite high profits,” said Pete Warden, a data-mining former Apple employee, in a tweet (http://twitter.com/petewarden/status/9014940274). He says that this is despite high profits, and that Apple “can be pretty evil.”

While the cuts could represent the end of an upgrade development cycle, as the next version upgrade of Final Cut is likely in preparation even now, Warden’s report reveals one key element that suggests more major losses, notes Distorted-Loop (http://distorted-loop.com/2010/02/19/final-cut-team-loses-key-figure-price-discounts-emerge).

Warden reveals, “Doyle Rockwell is leaving. He’s been a driving force behind Apple’s professional video products like Motion and Final Cut Pro for the last 8 years, but since he recently moved from LA to Austin to be closer to family, he’s fallen prey to some job cuts focused on off-site employees.”