Apple: Lawsuit against leaker Jon Prosser for theft of trade secrets

In a move that is drawing attention from the tech community, Apple has filed a lawsuit against well-known YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser, accusing him of stealing trade secrets related to iOS 26 — the next-generation operating system for iPhones.

According to the lawsuit, Prosser allegedly worked with another individual, Michael Ramacciotti , to illegally gain access to an Apple employee's development iPhone , with the goal of prematurely revealing features of the operating system

Device hacking and data theft

Apple claims that Ramacciotti accessed the iPhone of his friend, Apple engineer Ethan Lipnik , who was actively involved in the development of iOS. Ramacciotti allegedly learned the iPhone's passcode and, using location tracking, waited for the right moment when Lipnik would be away from home. He then hacked into and gained access to the phone — which still contained unofficial iOS 26 features.

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The content in question was transmitted via video call to Prosser, who according to Apple recorded the conversation, shared it with others, and then posted videos with renders of the alleged changes on his YouTube channels, Front Page Tech and Genius Bar Podcast.

Revelations via anonymous email

Apple apparently learned of the incident through an anonymous email, in which the sender claimed to have seen the recorded call and recognized Lipnik's apartment in the video. Additionally, the company says it has a voicemail from Ramacciotti to Lipnik, in which he apologizes for the iPhone breach and blames Jon Prosser.

Lipnik notified Apple and, although he was not actively involved in the leak, was fired by the company for violating strict security policies related to protecting unreleased software.

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The iOS leaks that caused a stir

Prosser had published several videos with insider information about the new iOS (which was called iOS 19 until then). Among them:

• January 2025: “Your very first look at iOS 19” – introducing the redesigned camera UI.
• March: preview of the app Messages, with a focus on group chat.
• April: "the biggest iOS leak ever" – revelations about the new Liquid Glass design language, which introduces transparency and dynamic animations to the system.

Jon Prosser's reaction: "I had no idea"

Prosser responded publicly via X (formerly Twitter), denying the allegations and challenging Apple's legal version. He claimed he had no involvement in planning the phone access, nor did he know how the information was obtained.

He himself stated that he has evidence that reveals his own version of the case.

The legal field: Apple vs leaks

Apple is seeking monetary damages and an injunction to prevent Jon Prosser from further disclosing trade secrets. Although iOS 26 has now been officially unveiled, the company emphasizes that the compromised development iPhone contained other sensitive information.

See also: Apple: Will it release a cheaper Macbook with an “iPhone chip”?

Analysis: The timeless game of cat and mouse with leaks

The Apple-Jon Prosser case once again brings to light the delicate balance between technology journalism, public interest, and corporate secrecy.

On the one hand, leaks create impressions and convey information to users about the direction of technological innovation. On the other hand, however, serious issues, legal and security, especially when the information is obtained through espionage or bypassing security systems.

Apple has been investing huge sums of money in protecting its products from leaks, and this case may set new legal precedents regarding the role of journalists/content creators in revealing confidential information.

Source: www.theverge.com