This Thursday, Apple has initiated a lawsuit against Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, alleging that they illegally acquired confidential details about iOS 26, which they revealed in multiple videos released earlier this year.
Amazon co-founder MacKenzie Scott has donated over $19 billion to charity in just five years
Diamond batteries powered by nuclear waste promise 28,000 years of clean energy
Early Leaks About the Future iOS
In January, Jon Prosser released a series of renderings purportedly showcasing the interface of what was then believed to be iOS 19, but was later unveiled as iOS 26 at the WWDC this past June. While some aspects, like the new camera interface, were different from the final version, many of his revelations turned out to be incredibly accurate.
His videos especially highlighted a new design for the Messages app, rounded corners around the keyboard, circular navigation buttons, and a broader preview of the “Liquid Glass” redesign, characterized by more rounded elements, pill-shaped navigation bars, and a more “frosted” aesthetic.
A Leak Orchestrated Around a Development iPhone
What sets apart a leak from a Chinese leaker or an exclusive scoop by a Bloomberg journalist from a video by two U.S. YouTubers? In its complaint, Apple details what it believes to be an intricate scheme involving a development iPhone owned by an Apple employee, Ethan Lipnik, a friend of Michael Ramacciotti.
According to Apple, Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti managed to acquire Ethan Lipnik’s access code, followed his movements through geolocation to determine when he would be away from his home for an extended period.
The latter then took this opportunity to access the prototype iPhone, make a FaceTime call with the former who recorded the screen of this exchange, thereby capturing the development version of iOS 26. Jon Prosser then shared these videos privately before releasing his famous renderings publicly on his channel and his Genius Bar podcast.
Apple’s Forceful Response
Apple states that the iPhone used still contained numerous confidential details that have not been publicly disclosed, and at this point, the company does not know the exact amount of data retrieved by the two men. Therefore, the corporation has sought legal action to obtain an injunction preventing any further disclosure of this information, as well as damages for illegal appropriation of trade secrets
.
Apple has clarified that Ethan Lipnik was fired, not only for failing to adhere to the strict rules governing the handling of prototypes, but also for failing to report the breach afterwards, despite clues reported by others who recognized his apartment in the recorded videos.
For his part, Jon Prosser disputes Apple’s presentation of the events. He claims he was not aware of the situation
and says he is eager to discuss it with Apple
! More to come on this issue…
NASA warns China could slow Earth’s rotation with one simple move
This dog endured 27 hours of labor and gave birth to a record-breaking number of puppies
It remains to be seen whether this legal action will prove these accusations and, regardless, if it will have a lasting deterrent effect on leakers… Or, conversely, if it will only further fuel interest in the rumors surrounding future Apple products. This lawsuit clearly illustrates the firm’s relentless will to fight against leaks, a battle it has been waging for years.