Apple filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser, alleging that he conspired to obtain and profit from leaked information regarding the unreleased iOS 26. The company claims that Prosser gained access to proprietary details through an Apple employee and a co-conspirator, Michael Ramacciotti, who allegedly unlocked the employee's phone . This legal action highlights the increasing tension between technology companies and content creators who share insider information, raising questions about intellectual property rights and ethical journalism in the digital age.
In the lawsuit, Apple says it received an anonymous tip linking Prosser's leaks to Ethan Lipnik, a software engineer at Apple from 2023-2025. Apple said it received the tip on April 4, months before the software debuted at WWDC, the company's annual conference where it launches products.
Apple alleged that Prosser commissioned Ramacciotti to break into Lipnik's development phone. Ramacciotti was a friend of Lipnik's, the suit says.
comment on the complaint on Friday. A spokesperson for Apple said the company had no further comment beyond the allegations in the complaint.
Prosser first disclosed details of iOS 26, which Apple is set to release this fall, in a YouTube video in January. According to the complaint, Prosser convinced Ramacciotti — a product analyst and video editor who Apple said "needed money" — to break into his Apple employee friend's phone and send Prosser secret information about the new operating system.
In order to protect its trade secrets, Apple has filed the lawsuit to request an injunction against further disclosure of Apple's confidential trade secret information and is seeking damages over the misappropriation of them.
Lipnik's employment with Apple has already been terminated over his failure to follow the company's policies to protect development and unreleased devices and software. Lipnik also failed to disclose the breach to Apple once he learned of it through others who recognized his apartment in the recorded FaceTime call, with Apple learning of the details from an anonymous email.
The implications of this lawsuit extend beyond Prosser himself; it poses significant ramifications for online content creators who rely on leaks as a source of material. If Apple succeeds in its legal pursuit—seeking both damages and an injunction against further disclosures—it may set a precedent that could stifle investigative reporting within tech journalism . As such cases unfold in courts around the world, they will undoubtedly shape future discourse surrounding privacy rights versus public interest in technological advancements.
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