Apple has filed a lawsuit towards YouTube content material creator Jon Prosser (@FrontPageTech) and NTFTW’s tech product analyst Michael Ramacciotti for allegedly plotting to entry an Apple worker’s improvement cellphone to leak design and different details about iOS 26 working system (OS). The corporate filed the lawsuit within the US District Court docket of California alleging that Prosser plotted to leak “commerce secrets and techniques” of Apple, finally taking advantage of it via YouTube advert income. Prosser posted the primary video about iOS 26, what was then rumoured to be referred to as iOS 19, on January 18, wherein he reveals the alleged design of the speculated digicam app.
Apple’s allegations and a lawsuit
In line with a court filing, Apple acquired the details about iOS 26 particulars being leaked via an nameless through an e-mail on April 4. The e-mail, as seen within the court docket doc, solely names Prosser and Ramacciotti, whereas different names have been redacted. Apple alleges that the case arises from Prosser and Ramacciotti’s “coordinated scheme” to achieve entry to a improvement iPhone in an effort to “steal Apple’s commerce secrets and techniques”, and achieve from the identical.
Apple stated that the 2, whereas doing this, prompted hurt to the corporate and its “1000’s of staff” who’re engaged on the corporate’s proprietary OS. As per Apple’s account, Prosser learnt that Ramacciotti wanted cash, and that he has a pal referred to as Ethan Lipnik who’s an Apple worker, who labored at below improvement OS designs.
Prosser and Ramacciotti then proceeded to conspire to entry the corporate’s “confidential and commerce secret data” through Lipnik’s improvement iPhone, the Cupertino firm 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 revealed, in line with Apple, that Ramacciotti used to trace Lipnik’s location, whereas staying at his place, to find out when he can be gone for an extended time frame. He then acquired Lipnik’s passcode, following which he was capable of break into the event iPhone. After gaining unauthorised entry to it, Ramacciotti confirmed Prosser iOS 19 (now referred to as iOS 26) options and functions, which he later utilized in his movies.
The three 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 primary video was uploaded on January 18, second on March 26, and third on April 8. Within the first video, Prosser confirmed the alleged design of the digicam app, the second confirmed the lock display screen’s design in iOS 19, and the third one confirmed the house display screen design.
Nevertheless, Prosser has denied Apple’s allegations. Whereas replying to an X publish, Prosser said that this isn’t how issues occurred on his finish, and that he was keen to speak to Apple about it. In one other reply, he stated that he “definitely didn’t plot” to achieve entry to anybody’s cellphone.