Creator Drama
Jon Prosser's Legal Battle Over Apple Leaks
Ongoing
Via "Apple’s Suing YouTubers Now" All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 8 events from Jul 1, 2025 to Jul 3, 2026, drawn from 3 sources.
“retain exclusive communication with Ramacciotti.”
via ithinkdiff.com
Background
Apple filed a lawsuit in July 2025 against YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, alleging a coordinated scheme to steal trade secrets related to unreleased iOS features. The lawsuit claimed that Ramacciotti accessed an Apple development iPhone belonging to employee Ethan Lipnik, showed its contents to Prosser via FaceTime, and that Prosser then published videos detailing these unreleased features, specifically mentioning iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface, before Apple's official announcement.
Apple alleged that this was done in exchange for payment, with Ramacciotti reportedly using location tracking and Lipnik's passcode to gain access to the device. Lipnik was subsequently fired from Apple.
Prosser initially missed his court-imposed deadline to respond to Apple's complaint, leading to a default judgment being entered against him in October 2025. This default would have allowed Apple to proceed with its claims without Prosser's formal defense. However, Prosser eventually obtained legal counsel in April 2026 and filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, which was granted by U.S.
District Judge James Donato, providing him a second opportunity to respond. The legal process has also been marked by delays in discovery, with Prosser reportedly failing to fully comply with Apple's document and deposition subpoenas served in January 2026, prompting Apple to seek court orders to compel production.
The timeline
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Apple Files Lawsuit Against Prosser and Ramacciotti
Apple initiates legal proceedings against Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and a coordinated scheme to leak unreleased iOS features, specifically mentioning iOS 26. The complaint details how Ramacciotti allegedly accessed an Apple employee's development iPhone and shared its contents with Prosser.[599]
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Default Judgment Entered Against Prosser
A default judgment is entered against Jon Prosser after he failed to formally respond to Apple's lawsuit by the court-imposed deadline. This ruling would have allowed Apple to proceed without Prosser's participation in contesting the allegations.[601]
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Apple Serves Subpoenas on Prosser
Apple serves Jon Prosser with document and deposition subpoenas as part of the discovery process related to the lawsuit, seeking information pertinent to the claims against Ramacciotti.[602]
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Prosser Retains Legal Counsel
Jon Prosser secures legal representation, nearly nine months after Apple's initial lawsuit filing, which contributes to the procedural delays in the case.[601]
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Joint Status Report Filed
A joint status report is filed, indicating ongoing issues with discovery compliance. The report highlights that Prosser has not fully responded to certain discovery requests and has failed to appear for a deposition.[601]
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Prosser and Apple File Joint Stipulation
Apple and Jon Prosser jointly request the court to set aside the default judgment. As part of the stipulation, Prosser agrees to produce all responsive documents by this date and to sit for a deposition.[602]
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Prosser Deposition Deadline
The deadline for Jon Prosser to complete his deposition as part of the joint stipulation agreement with Apple.[602]
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Prosser Files Formal Response to Lawsuit
Jon Prosser formally responds to Apple's lawsuit in federal court, denying conspiracy claims, disputing allegations of trade secret misappropriation, and requesting the case be dismissed. He admits to viewing unreleased iOS features on a development iPhone during a FaceTime call but denies knowledge of how the information was obtained.[599]
Frequently asked
What is Jon Prosser accused of by Apple?
Apple alleges that Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti engaged in a coordinated scheme to steal trade secrets by accessing an Apple development iPhone, showing its unreleased iOS features to Prosser, who then published them before Apple's official announcement.
What is Prosser's defense against Apple's claims?
Prosser denies conspiring to obtain trade secrets and asks for the case to be dismissed. He admits to seeing unreleased iOS features on a FaceTime call but claims ignorance regarding how the information was acquired and denies knowing the iPhone belonged to an Apple employee.
Has Prosser admitted to any wrongdoing?
Prosser admits to participating in and recording a FaceTime call where unreleased iOS features were shown on a development device. He also admits to sharing a portion of YouTube advertising revenue with Ramacciotti after publishing videos about the leaks, stating it was to retain exclusive communication.
What is the current status of the lawsuit?
The lawsuit is ongoing. Jon Prosser has filed his formal response, denying key allegations and requesting dismissal. The court has not yet ruled on the merits of Apple's claims or Prosser's defenses.
Why was there a default judgment against Prosser?
A default judgment was entered against Prosser in October 2025 because he missed his court-imposed deadline to formally respond to Apple's lawsuit. This default was later set aside by a judge, allowing him to file his response.
Sources
- dexerto.com, Jon Prosser has formally responded to Apple’s lawsuit over alleged leaks of iOS 26, denying claims that he conspired to obtain the company’s trade secrets while asking the court to dismiss the case. T, Jul 3, 2026.
- ithinkdiff.com, Jon Prosser has filed a formal response to Apple’s lawsuit over the iOS 26 leaks. In the filing with U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Prosser admits to viewing unreleased i, Jul 3, 2026.
- macrumors.com, Apple and leaker Jon Prosser have jointly asked a federal court to set aside the default judgment entered against him last October, with Prosser agreeing to hand over documents he had thus far failed , Jul 3, 2026.