Apple Sues YouTuber Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks, Alleges Theft of Trade Secrets

Tech giant Apple has filed a lawsuit against popular YouTuber Jon Prosser and alleged accomplice Michael Ramacciotti, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets related to its upcoming mobile operating system, iOS 26. The lawsuit, first reported by MacRumors, claims the pair illegally accessed and leaked unreleased features of iOS 26 months ahead of its official debut at WWDC 2025.

🔓 Alleged Breach of Confidential Apple Data

According to Apple’s complaint, the leaks were traced back to a development iPhone assigned to Ethan Lipnik, an Apple employee and close friend of Ramacciotti. Apple alleges that Prosser and Ramacciotti collaborated to gain access to Lipnik’s device by obtaining his passcode and tracking his location, ultimately allowing Ramacciotti to access the phone while it was unattended.

The lawsuit further claims that Ramacciotti FaceTimed Prosser to showcase iOS 26 running on the development device. Prosser allegedly screen-recorded the call, using the footage to create and publish rendered videos of the OS—videos that highlighted upcoming features, such as:

• A redesigned Camera app
• A refreshed Messages interface with rounded buttons
• A new “Liquid Glass” UI overhaul

Many of these design elements closely matched the final version of iOS 26, reinforcing Apple’s claim that the leaks were based on authentic, confidential material.

👨‍💼 Employee Terminated, Apple Responds

Following the leak, Ethan Lipnik was terminated by Apple for violating internal policies and failing to report the breach. Apple claims it only discovered the unauthorized access after receiving an anonymous email tip, which identified Lipnik's apartment as visible in the background of the leaked footage.

Apple asserts that Lipnik’s device contained “a significant amount of additional confidential material” that has not yet been disclosed to the public. It remains unclear how much sensitive data may have been accessed or retained by Prosser and Ramacciotti.

⚖️ Apple Seeks Injunction, Damages

Apple is now pursuing an injunction to prevent any further sharing of its proprietary information. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages for the alleged theft and unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets.

📣 Prosser Denies Allegations

In response to the allegations, Jon Prosser denied any wrongdoing, telling MacRumors he was "unaware of the situation playing out" and added that he looked forward to “being able to speak to Apple about it.”

🧾 Summary

• Apple sues Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti for allegedly leaking iOS 26 trade secrets.
• Leaks reportedly stemmed from a development iPhone used by Apple employee Ethan Lipnik, who was later fired.
• Prosser allegedly recorded and published iOS 26 visuals before the official announcement.
• Apple seeks an injunction and damages, while Prosser denies knowledge of any wrongdoing.