Apple Sues YouTuber Jon Prosser of FPT for Alleged iOS 26 Leaks; Calls it a Trade Secret

Apple has filed a lawsuit towards YouTube content material author Jon Prosser (@FrontPageTech) and NTFTW’s tech product analyst Michael Ramacciotti for allegedly plotting to get right of entry to an Apple worker’s construction telephone to leak design and different details about iOS 26 working gadget (OS). The corporate filed the lawsuit in the USA District Court of California alleging that Prosser plotted to leak “industry secrets and techniques” of Apple, in the end benefiting from it via YouTube advert income. Prosser posted the primary video about iOS 26, what used to be then rumoured to be referred to as iOS 19, on January 18, by which he finds the alleged design of the speculated digicam app.

Apple’s allegations and a lawsuit

According to a court filing, Apple gained the details about iOS 26 main points being leaked via an nameless by way of an electronic mail on April 4. The electronic mail, as observed within the court docket record, handiest names Prosser and Ramacciotti, whilst different names had been redacted. Apple alleges that the case arises from Prosser and Ramacciotti’s “coordinated scheme” to achieve get right of entry to to a construction iPhone as a way to “thieve Apple’s industry secrets and techniques”, and achieve from the similar.

Apple mentioned that the 2, whilst doing this, led to hurt to the corporate and its “1000’s of workers” who’re running at the corporate’s proprietary OS. As in keeping with Apple’s account, Prosser learnt that Ramacciotti wanted cash, and that he has a chum referred to as Ethan Lipnik who’s an Apple worker, who labored at underneath construction OS designs.

Prosser and Ramacciotti then proceeded to conspire to get right of entry to the corporate’s “confidential and industry secret data” by way of Lipnik’s construction iPhone, the Cupertino corporate claims. Apple learnt about this from an audio message that Ramacciotti despatched to Lipnik, which Lipnik shared with the corporate earlier than getting fired.

The alleged message published, in line with Apple, that Ramacciotti used to trace Lipnik’s location, whilst staying at his position, to decide when he can be long past for an extended time period. He then obtained Lipnik’s passcode, following which he used to be ready to wreck into the improvement iPhone. After gaining unauthorised get right of entry to to it, Ramacciotti confirmed Prosser iOS 19 (now referred to as iOS 26) options and programs, which he later utilized in his movies.

The 3 movies in query, that Prosser uploaded on his YouTube channel FPT, are titled “Here’s your very first look at iOS 19”, “Introducing iOS 19 | Exclusive First Look”, and “This video is the biggest iOS leak ever | iOS 19 Early Preview”. The first video used to be uploaded on January 18, 2d on March 26, and 3rd on April 8. In the primary video, Prosser confirmed the alleged design of the digicam app, the second one confirmed the lock display screen’s design in iOS 19, and the 3rd one confirmed the house display screen design.

However, Prosser has denied Apple’s allegations. While replying to an X publish, Prosser said that this isn’t how issues came about on his finish, and that he used to be keen to speak to Apple about it. In some other answer, he mentioned that he “unquestionably didn’t plot” to achieve get right of entry to to any person’s telephone.