Apple sues YouTuber for his videos on iOS 26 in bombshell lawsuit
The legal eagles are circling
Featured Image Credit: fpt/YouTube
Just like tech bros know not to mess with Nintendo, Apple is another giant you don't want to end up opposite in a courtroom. As one of the big five (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta), it's not afraid to use some of that 3.14 trillion worth to slap you with litigation.
Now, Apple is apparently taking one YouTuber to court over his leaks relating to iOS 26. Apple has recently mixed things up, and instead of iOS 19, it has unveiled a more simplified numbering system.
We've heard plenty about iOS 26, especially with its new Liquid Glass innovations. Unfortunately, it seems those who tried to get the jump on Apple could soon be paying the price.
While not quite as sensationalist as the legal action that was triggered by the biggest leak in Apple's history, YouTuber Jon Prosser is now in the talons of Apple's legal eagles.
Advert
The YouTuber shared multiple videos showcasing what he claimed were recreations of iOS 26 (then known as iOS 19) renderings. Apple then unveiled iOS 26 at June 9's WWDC showcase, with the finished product looking suspiciously like designs Prosser had been showing off.
As reported by MacRumors, Prosser's first video arrived in January, focusing on a redesigned Camera app with simplified buttons. This was followed by a March episode of his Genius Bar podcast, where Prosser honed in on a new Messages app that's more rounded.
Finally, an all-star April video gave us all the gossip on the Liquid Glass overhaul. Even though the Camera app redesign wasn't an exact match for iOS 26's update, a lawsuit announces legal action against Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, with the pair being accused of misappropriation of trade secrets.
The filing highlights the possession of a development iPhone that was said to be in the hands of Ramacciotti's friend, an Apple employee called Ethan Lipnik. Apple maintains that Prosser and Ramacciotti 'plotted' to gain access to the phone by using his passcode and using tracking to figure out when Lipnik "would be gone for an extended period." Prosser is then accused of offering compensation to Ramacciotti for helping him get inside the developmental phone.
The lawsuit continues to say that Ramacciotti FaceTimed Prosser after he gained access to the device and showed off iOS 26 as Prosser recorded via screen capture.
It's said that Prosser shared this footage with others and created the renders for his videos.
Apple states that Lipnik's device included a "significant amount of additional Apple trade secret information that has not yet been publicly disclosed," and that it's concerned about how much is now in the hands of Prosser and Ramacciotti.
The lawsuit requests an injunction against further revelations, as well as compensatory damages.
Lipnik's has already been terminated from Apple due to failing to comply with policies relating to protecting the development of unreleased devices and software. He also apparently didn't reveal the breach to Apple after others spotted his apartment in the FaceTime call. Reportedly, Apple got an anonymous tipoff.
After MacRumors posted the original story, Prosser took to X to defend himself, writing: "Interesting. This is not how things went down on my end. Looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it."
In a follow-up post, he concluded: "For the record: I certainly did not ‘plot’ to access anyone’s phone and was unaware of the situation playing out."