Apple has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against prominent tech leaker Jon Prosser and codefendant Michael Ramacciotti, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets related to iOS 26. The legal action stems from YouTube videos published earlier this year that depicted mockups of unreleased iOS features, which Apple claims were based on confidential material obtained through unauthorised access to a company employee’s development iPhone.
Alleged breach of confidential software development
According to court documents obtained by MacRumors, Apple alleges that Ramacciotti gained physical access to a development iPhone belonging to his friend and Apple employee, Ethan Lipnik. The complaint states that Prosser and Ramacciotti conspired to acquire this sensitive information, with Prosser allegedly promising to arrange payment for Ramacciotti in exchange for access to the device.
Apple claims that Ramacciotti waited for Lipnik to leave his home for an extended period, using a location-tracking tool to confirm his absence. During that time, Ramacciotti reportedly accessed the device and initiated a FaceTime video call with Prosser. During the call, he showed off elements of iOS 26’s unreleased design features, which Prosser allegedly recorded using screen capture software. Apple asserts that Prosser later shared the footage with others to help construct realistic renderings of the unreleased software.
In an effort to conceal the source of the leak, Prosser is said to have recreated the renders for his videos. He has previously explained that this method was intended to prevent Apple from tracing the leak using internal software identifiers embedded in development builds.
One individual who viewed the footage is believed to have recognised Lipnik’s apartment, prompting Lipnik to be informed of the unauthorised access. Following an internal investigation, Apple terminated Lipnik’s employment, citing his failure to safeguard confidential company information.
Publication of mockups and internal fallout
In January, Prosser released a video on his YouTube channel, Front Page Tech, showcasing a purported redesign of the iOS 26 Camera app. Subsequent videos highlighted mockups of a revamped Messages app and a new visual design language referred to as Liquid Glass, which Apple is reportedly adopting for the upcoming update.
The lawsuit alleges that Ramacciotti was familiar with Lipnik’s routine, having often stayed at his home, and was thus able to observe his device security protocols. Apple also claims to possess a voice note in which Ramacciotti apologised to Lipnik and placed responsibility for the scheme on Prosser.
While Apple acknowledges it does not yet know the full extent of the confidential data accessed, the company warns that the development iPhone may have contained a “significant amount of additional Apple trade secret information that has not yet been publicly disclosed.”
Legal action and public response
Apple is now seeking a court injunction to prevent both defendants from using or sharing its proprietary information without written consent. The company is also demanding the destruction of all material obtained through the alleged breach and is pursuing financial damages. A jury trial has been requested.
In response to the allegations, Prosser took to the social media platform X to deny any wrongdoing. “This is not how things went down on my end,” he stated. “Looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it.” He added, “For the record: I certainly did not ‘plot’ to access anyone’s phone and was unaware of the situation playing out.”
Interesting. This is not how things went down on my end. Looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it.
— jon prosser (@jon_prosser) July 18, 2025
The case highlights the ongoing challenges tech companies face in keeping pre-release developments secure amid increasing interest from leakers and the wider public.
