Apple Flags Discovery Delays in Its Lawsuit Against Jon Prosser

[MacRumors]

Apple has told a federal court that it hasn't heard from Jon Prosser's legal team in a month, as discovery drags on in its trade secret lawsuit against the leaker.

In a joint status report filed on Wednesday in the Northern District of California, Apple's attorneys said they had made repeated attempts to reach Prosser's counsel about outstanding discovery issues without success. From the filing:

Apple and Mr. Prosser have worked to advance this case through limited discovery. Mr. Prosser provided documents and communications to Apple, and sat for a deposition on June 16, 2026. Unfortunately, Apple last heard from Mr. Prosser's counsel on July 6th, 2026, despite repeated attempts to communicate and follow up on outstanding discovery issues. There still appear to be deficiencies in Mr. Prosser's productions, and Apple has notified Mr. Prosser's counsel of those issues.

Shortly before the report was filed, Prosser's attorney told Apple's legal team that the delay likely stems from Prosser welcoming his second child and attending to the newborn's care. The attorney indicated he would find dates for Prosser to provide the remaining discovery materials.

Co-defendant Michael Ramacciotti, who Apple says accessed the confidential device at the center of the case, has continued cooperating throughout the case. He agreed to supplement his interrogatory responses and sit for a second deposition.

Apple sued Prosser and Ramacciotti in July 2025, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets tied to then-unreleased iOS 26 software, including the Liquid Glass redesign, by accessing a development iPhone belonging to Apple engineer Ethan Lipnik.

Ramacciotti cooperated with the case from the outset, but Prosser initially missed several deadlines to respond, leading the court to enter a default against him in October 2025 that barred him from contesting Apple's allegations. Prosser's attorney successfully petitioned to have that default set aside in June 2026, and Prosser filed a formal answer in the case on July 2. In it, he admitted joining a FaceTime call in which Ramacciotti showed him unreleased iOS features running on the development device, but denied that what he saw constituted trade secrets and denied knowing the device belonged to Lipnik.

Apple is seeking damages as well as a permanent injunction barring Prosser from disclosing its trade secrets again. Such an order could stop him from covering unreleased Apple products at all, which forms a significant part of his YouTube channel. Ramacciotti's second deposition is set for September, and all three parties expect to file another status update with the court on October 7.

Article Link: Apple Flags Discovery Delays in Its Lawsuit Against Jon Prosser

 

[blairh]

Prosser is a troubled soul. And his recent videos stink.

I think this dude just needs to try a new career, honestly.

 

[Manzzle]

I think Apple should just drop it and put more effort into trying to convince people to pay over $2K + tax for a 256GB folding phone.

 

[jarman92]

I know some people see this as Apple being a bully, but as an attorney it's actually wild how accommodating Apple is being of Prosser's BS.

 

[jarman92]

I think Apple should just drop it and put more effort into trying to convince people to pay over $2K + tax for a 256GB folding phone.

More effort? They haven't even announced the product yet. Also there are already multiple $2k+ folding phones on the market and they sell quite well; anybody paying attention knows the folding iPhone is gonna sell like hotcakes (and I say this as someone with zero interest in one).

 

[jz0309]

I mean, this kinda stuff keeps him in the spotlight, but what is he getting out of this? said it before, smells fishy ...

 

[turbineseaplane]

I know some people see this as Apple being a bully, but as an attorney it's actually wild how accommodating Apple is being of Prosser's BS.

I'm sure it's mixed feelings in that "all attention is good attention" can be a compelling marketing narrative in today's world.

 

[matthew12]

You'd think being sued by one of the biggest companies in the world would be at least somewhat of a priority for him. Yeah, he has a new child, but babies mostly just sleep and poop. Emailing or taking a phone call isn't that hard to do. Considering the circumstances, Apple has been very accommodating.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Let's be honest, we all want Jon Prosser to win

 

[abatabia]

Can Prosser just go away already?

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

John Prosser is an arrogant little you know what and it shows in his videos. He actually thinks he's above apple in this. Apple has every single right not to want certain things leaked out there before they are ready to announce it, and even then, they arent ready. Remember the whole AirPower charging pad and the whole Apple Intelligence thing?

Apple has every single right to hold back on things until they feel they are ready to a release a product they can be proud of, and here comes Jon Prosser leaking stuff from them he knows is genuine, and its like, ok, your not reporting on a rumor, your leaking actual corporate info before its ready and effecting how people see a product before its finished.

In this comment section alone, people are allready trashing the Iphone Ultra/Fold when apple hasnt even shown it off yet. Talk about not giving it a fair chance at all, and that stems from rumors and unconfirmed reports leaked by people like Jon Prosser.

Look, im not saying you have to like or buy everything apple puts out. Far from it. I love apple as a company but i still have issues with the way they do things. Thats fair.

And im not going to run out and buy the Iphone ultra if it doesnt meet certain expections of mine. If it cant handle a day at the beach without sand damaging the screen, maybe its best i wait a generation or just get the regular iphone pro instead.

But im also not critizing apple on a product they havent offically announced or shown off yet, based on rumors alone.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I think Apple should just drop it and put more effort into trying to convince people to pay over $2K + tax for a 256GB folding phone.

Apple has a legitimate interest in pursuing people it alleges improperly obtained and disclosed confidential IP. If Apple simply ignored conduct like what Prosser did, it would also signal to others that stealing or leaking its confidential information carries little consequence.

Also, if you want Apple to increase its marketing budget feel free to contact the company and tell them that.

 

[Ataris8327]

Let's be honest, we all want Jon Prosser to win

Nah. I want that Arrogant shill to get what's coming to him.

 

[erikkfi]

I hate Jon Prosser and I realize it's only because people on this forum hate him. I'm not interested in videos about tech leaks/predictions at all and I've never consumed any of his content. The hate from MacRumors for him is so white-hot, though.

 

[Phillyfinest89]

More effort? They haven't even announced the product yet. Also there are already multiple $2k+ folding phones on the market and they sell quite well; anybody paying attention knows the folding iPhone is gonna sell like hotcakes (and I say this as someone with zero interest in one).

Don’t need to announced anything these days. Leaks tell us everything and Apple isn’t really secretive anymore. Everyone knows what’s going on before it goes on.

 

[svish]

Not sure how long this will drag on. Waiting to see what will happen with this case.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm not interested in videos about tech leaks/predictions at all

But you're on MacRumors.com ?

 

[FatLouie]

I mean, this kinda stuff keeps him in the spotlight, but what is he getting out of this? said it before, smells fishy ...

Apple has spent too much money on this for it to be an ill-conceived publicity scheme on Apple's part.

Prosser should fall to his knees, do a mea culpa, kiss the ring of Apple, and beg forgiveness. He will not win this case, and the likely outcome could prevent him from reporting on anything Apple. Even a negotiated settlement will benefit Apple more than Prosser.

 

[MacLawyer]

I know some people see this as Apple being a bully, but as an attorney it's actually wild how accommodating Apple is being of Prosser's BS.

I wonder if Mr. Prosser owes money to his counsel.

 

[JanoschR]

[...] the delay likely stems from Prosser welcoming his second child and attending to the newborn's care.

He's so busy with his newborn, he probably also doesn't have the time to make new videos, right? Right? RIGHT???

 

[haunebu]

He saw beta software and reported on it? Big deal.

 

[Brother Cavil]

I hate Jon Prosser and I realize it's only because people on this forum hate him. I'm not interested in videos about tech leaks/predictions at all and I've never consumed any of his content. The hate from MacRumors for him is so white-hot, though.

I think he's just one of those unfortunate types who many (most?) people dislike almost immediately. He's the kid in school you just wanted to punch for no reason. The first time I saw one of his videos, I immediately disliked him on some primal/instinctual level.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think he's just one of those unfortunate types who many (most?) people dislike almost immediately. He's the kid in school you just wanted to punch for no reason. The first time I saw one of his videos, I immediately disliked him on some primal/instinctual level.

Wowzers. You've never even met the person and know basically nothing about him.

Don't you think you're assuming quite a bit from his YouTube videos, which are a business for him?

 

[Johnny907]

Oh. Huh.
Delays suck, huh Apple? 🤨

 

[neuropsychguy]

He saw beta software and reported on it? Big deal.

That's not what the suit and allegations are about. The issue is in the article: "Apple sued Prosser and Ramacciotti in July 2025, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets tied to then-unreleased iOS 26 software, including the Liquid Glass redesign, by accessing a development iPhone belonging to Apple engineer Ethan Lipnik."

In other words, Apple claims that Prosser and Ramacciotti deliberately and illegally obtained access to an Apple employee’s development iPhone and confidential, unreleased software, then used that access to reveal Apple’s trade secrets. Whether Apple can prove those allegations is for courts to decide, but this isn't just a case of someone being shown a beta and writing about what they saw.

This is similar to the difference between looking through the windows of a house and seeing part of someone's art collection and breaking into the house and looking at the art collection. Or, learning from a friend about that friend's experiences or sneaking into that friend's house reading their diary, and then posting contents of that diary online.