Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks
It seems like Apple is cracking down on leaks, folks! The tech giant has officially filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, accusing them of misappropriation of trade secrets. You might remember Prosser from his videos earlier this year, where he showcased what he claimed were re-created renderings of iOS 26 – before Apple even unveiled it at WWDC.
Prosser's videos offered glimpses of a redesigned Camera app, a revamped Messages app, and a more complete look at the "Liquid Glass" redesign that eventually made its way into iOS 26. While the Camera app wasn't a perfect match, many of Prosser's leaks were surprisingly accurate. This didn't sit well with Apple, and now they're taking legal action.
According to Apple's complaint, the leaks originated from a development iPhone in the possession of Ethan Lipnik, an Apple employee. Apple alleges that Prosser and Ramacciotti conspired to access Lipnik's phone, even going as far as tracking his location to determine when he'd be away. The story gets even wilder: Apple claims Prosser offered Ramacciotti money in exchange for helping him access the iPhone.
If Apple's claims are true, Ramacciotti managed to access Lipnik's iPhone and showed off iOS 26 running on it during a FaceTime call with Prosser. Prosser then reportedly recorded the call and used it to create his renderings. It's worth noting that Lipnik's phone apparently contained a "significant amount of additional Apple trade secret information" that hasn't been revealed to the public yet, making this situation even more serious for Apple.
Now, Apple is seeking an injunction to prevent further disclosure of its confidential information and is demanding damages for the alleged misappropriation. And what about Lipnik? Well, his employment with Apple has already been terminated for failing to protect development devices and software.
In response to the allegations, Prosser claims he was "unaware of the situation playing out" and looks forward to speaking with Apple about it. While I don't know the full truth of the matter, it's clear that this is a serious situation with potentially significant consequences for everyone involved.
Source: Mac Rumors