Apple has taken the rare legal step of filing a federal lawsuit against tech YouTuber Jon Prosser and his associate Michael Ramacciotti, alleging a coordinated scheme to steal trade secrets related to the next-generation operating system, iOS 26 leak. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California on July 17, 2025, accuses the pair of misappropriating confidential details from a development iPhone belonging to Apple employee Ethan Lipnik.
Alleged Leak Scheme
According to Apple’s complaint, Ramacciotti used his friendship with Lipnik to access the Apple-issued development device while staying at Lipnik’s home. The company alleges that Ramacciotti tracked Lipnik’s whereabouts, obtained his iPhone passcode, and entered the device during a period when Lipnik was away. Ramacciotti then reportedly initiated a FaceTime call with Prosser, showcasing the unreleased iOS 26 interface in real time. Prosser allegedly screen-recorded the call, using the captured footage as the basis for a series of YouTube videos and podcast episodes published between January and April 2025.
Prosser’s series of leaks closely predicted several iOS 26 features—including the overhauled Camera app, redesigned Messages app interface, and the new “Liquid Glass” visual language that Apple officially unveiled at WWDC 2025. While not every detail was an exact match, many of the visuals and UI directions shown in Prosser’s materials strongly aligned with Apple’s final product.
Apple’s Legal Response
Apple’s lawsuit charges Prosser and Ramacciotti with:
- Misappropriation of trade secrets
- Violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
The company is seeking:
- A jury trial
- An injunction to halt further leaks
- Both compensatory and punitive damages
- An order to return or destroy all confidential materials obtained from the breach
Apple also terminated Ethan Lipnik’s employment as a result of the security lapses related to the development device.
Prosser Responds
Jon Prosser has publicly denied Apple’s allegations, arguing that he was unaware of any “plot” to access the development iPhone or of how the information was obtained. On social media, Prosser stated:
“I did not ‘plot’ to access anyone’s phone. I did not have any passwords. I was unaware of how the information was obtained. Looking forward to speaking with Apple on this.”
He added that he has evidence that will support his version of events and intends to present it in court.
What’s Next
The legal action underscores Apple’s increasingly aggressive approach to leaks of unreleased products and software. The court will need to determine whether Prosser and Ramacciotti’s actions constituted a violation of trade secret laws or crossed into criminal territory.
This case is believed to be one of the first times Apple has sought to litigate against a leaker for pre-release software disclosures. As proceedings move forward, the technology industry will be closely watching for precedent-setting rulings on the boundaries between leaks, journalism, and intellectual property protection.