Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over Alleged iOS 26 Trade Secret Theft
Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over Alleged iOS 26 Trade Secret Theft
Apple has initiated legal action against prominent leaker Jon Prosser, accusing him of stealing trade secrets related to iOS 26. The lawsuit alleges that Prosser orchestrated a scheme involving another individual, Michael Ramacciotti, to illicitly gain access to an Apple employee’s development iPhone. This access was reportedly used to obtain and disseminate information regarding Apple’s then-unannounced iOS 26 features.
According to the court filing, Apple claims Prosser enticed Ramacciotti with promises of financial compensation or future employment in exchange for access to a company device belonging to his friend, Apple software engineer Ethan Lipnik. Ramacciotti purportedly learned Lipnik’s iPhone passcode, tracked his movements, and accessed the device while Lipnik was away. The lawsuit states that Ramacciotti then showed the development software to Prosser via a video call, which Prosser allegedly recorded, shared, and used to create product renders.
Apple stated it uncovered the details of the alleged breach in April following an anonymous email from someone who recognized Lipnik’s apartment in Prosser’s recording. The company also cites a voice note from Ramacciotti to Lipnik, apologizing for the incident and claiming Prosser was the mastermind. Lipnik, who provided this evidence to Apple, was subsequently fired for violating company policies on securing unreleased software. Prosser has denied the allegations on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that Apple’s account is inaccurate and claiming to possess evidence to refute it. Apple seeks damages and a court order to prevent Prosser from further disclosing trade secrets, noting that despite iOS 26’s public announcement, the development phone contained other unreleased design elements that remain at risk.
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