Apple sued YouTuber Jon Prosser in July 2025, accusing him and an alleged accomplice, Michael Ramacciotti, of stealing trade secrets tied to the iOS 26 “Liquid Glass” redesign and previewing them on his Front Page Tech channel. The Jon Prosser lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and remains active. After failing to respond for months and drawing a default, Prosser retained counsel in April 2026 and has since agreed to produce documents and sit for a deposition.
What Apple Says Happened
According to Apple’s complaint, the leaks trace back to a development iPhone belonging to Ethan Lipnik, an Apple software engineer working on unreleased software designs. Ramacciotti, a friend of Lipnik’s, allegedly learned the device’s passcode and used location tracking to watch for a stretch when Lipnik would be away from his apartment. When that window came, Apple says Ramacciotti accessed the phone and started a FaceTime call with Prosser, showing him the unreleased iOS 26 software running on the device.1The Verge. Apple Jon Prosser Lawsuit
Apple alleges Prosser recorded the FaceTime call using screen capture tools and later used the footage to create the rendered previews that appeared on his channel. The complaint casts Prosser as the “mastermind and money guy” behind the operation and says he offered Ramacciotti money or a future job in exchange for the access.2MacRumors. Apple Sues Jon Prosser iOS 26 Leaks Forensic evidence cited in the filing shows Ramacciotti called Prosser before unlocking the device, which Apple argues means Prosser helped decide to access it rather than passively receiving what came out.3PCMag. Apple Sues YouTuber Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks
The videos at the center of the case began appearing on January 17, 2025, when Prosser published a clip titled “Here’s your very first look at iOS 19.” He followed up over the next several months, including an April 2025 video billed as “the biggest iOS leak ever.” The designs he showed closely matched what Apple later unveiled as the Liquid Glass system in iOS 26.4The Verge. Jon Prosser Apple Liquid Glass
The Claims and What Apple Wants
The complaint brings claims under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Apple is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, an injunction to prevent further disclosure of confidential information, an order requiring the return or destruction of trade secret materials, and legal fees.5Times of India. Apple Sues YouTuber Jon Prosser
Even though the Liquid Glass design is now public, Apple argues the defendants remain an “ongoing threat” because Lipnik’s device contained other unreleased design elements that are still confidential.6Ars Technica. Apple Sues YouTuber Who Leaked iOS 26’s Liquid Glass Redesign
How Apple Found Out
Apple says it learned about the breach through an anonymous email received on April 4, 2025. Others recognized Lipnik’s apartment in the recorded FaceTime footage and alerted him, but according to Apple he did not report the incident. He was later fired for failing to properly secure the development device and for not disclosing the breach.2MacRumors. Apple Sues Jon Prosser iOS 26 Leaks
Lipnik is not a defendant. He did give Apple a voice recording from Ramacciotti in which Ramacciotti apologized for the incident and said the plan to access the phone had been Prosser’s idea.1The Verge. Apple Jon Prosser Lawsuit
Prosser’s Response
The day after Apple filed the lawsuit, Prosser posted on X: “For the record: I certainly did not ‘plot’ to access anyone’s phone and was unaware of the situation playing out.” He said he was “looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it” and claimed to have “receipts” backing his account. In February 2025, before the lawsuit was filed, he had posted a screenshot from a messaging app that he said showed he received the leaked information unsolicited.2MacRumors. Apple Sues Jon Prosser iOS 26 Leaks He has continued producing Front Page Tech videos about unreleased Apple products while the case is pending.4The Verge. Jon Prosser Apple Liquid Glass
Ramacciotti’s Answer
Ramacciotti filed his answer to Apple’s complaint on October 29, 2025, and told a very different story. He admitted accessing Lipnik’s development iPhone and showing Prosser the unreleased software over FaceTime, but denied any coordinated conspiracy.7AppleInsider. Apple iOS 26 Leaker’s Court Filing
He described what he did as an “amateur error driven by curiosity and easy access.” According to his filing, Lipnik had sat down with him weeks earlier and voluntarily shown him the same iOS 26 features on the development phone, which led him to think the software was not particularly sensitive. He denied tracking Lipnik’s location and denied knowing that Prosser was recording the FaceTime call.8The Verge. Apple Jon Prosser Lawsuit – Ramacciotti Paid
On the money question, Ramacciotti confirmed that Prosser paid him $650 but said the payment came after the FaceTime call and was not arranged in advance.7AppleInsider. Apple iOS 26 Leaker’s Court Filing His filing also argued Apple failed to show real harm, calling the company’s alleged losses “speculative and uncertain,” and suggested Apple’s own handling of the development device contributed to what happened.9AppleWorld Today. Michael Ramacciotti Denies Conspiring With Jon Prosser
Where the Case Stands
Prosser missed his court-mandated deadline of August 19, 2025 to answer the complaint. On October 17, 2025, the court clerk entered a default against him, which meant the case could proceed without his participation. During that period he told The Verge he was in “active communication” with Apple, but Apple told the court he had not indicated when he would formally respond.7AppleInsider. Apple iOS 26 Leaker’s Court Filing
Apple served Prosser with document and deposition subpoenas on February 3, 2026. He turned over some materials, but not others, and did not respond at all to several requests. Apple extended his deadlines more than once. In an April 13, 2026 joint status report, the company said it still had not received the discovery it needed to figure out how Prosser obtained the confidential information or the full extent of what he acquired. Apple said it planned to file a motion in the Northern District of Ohio to compel his compliance.10MacRumors. Prosser Still Not Cooperating in Lawsuit
Ramacciotti cooperated with discovery throughout, providing devices for forensic review, agreeing to supplement his interrogatory responses, and offering to sit for a follow-up deposition. He and Apple have been in informal settlement discussions since at least October 2025, though no settlement has been announced.11Android Headlines. Jon Prosser Still Failing to Cooperate in Apple’s iOS 26 Leak Lawsuit
Prosser’s situation shifted in April 2026. On April 14, attorney Joseph Curtis Edmondson filed a notice of appearance on his behalf, the first time Prosser had formal legal representation in the case, and filed a status report and required corporate disclosures the same day.12CourtListener. Apple Inc. v. Ramacciotti
On June 9, 2026, Apple and Prosser filed a joint stipulation asking the court to set aside the October 2025 default. Under the agreement, Prosser committed to producing all materials responsive to Apple’s January 2026 document subpoena by June 9, 2026, and to sitting for a deposition no later than June 16, 2026. If the court approves the stipulation, he will have ten days from the date of that order to file a formal answer to Apple’s complaint.13MacRumors. Apple Agrees to Let Jon Prosser Contest Lawsuit The Verge confirmed his agreement to sit for the deposition based on a joint status report filed June 10, 2026.14The Verge. Apple Leaker Jon Prosser Has Agreed to Sit for a Deposition
As of the most recent filings in mid-June 2026, the stipulation to set aside the default is awaiting judicial approval. No trial date has been set, and the case remains in discovery.