Up next: Tim takes on this site for regurgitating Prosser without verifying the information. Speaking from experience, just because you cite a source, that doesn’t always protect.
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Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks
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Allegedly.
Let be honest Apple seem to have difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction these days. A company with anything interesting in the pipeline wouldn't waste their time with this.
The real story is Apple thought everybody was going to be wowed by the new UI and are gutted that it leaked.
In reality the UI was a damp squib, was met with a combination of completely indifference and 'wtaf' reactions and now Apple just looks like a vindictive bully going after some tiny Youtuber.
Nearly everything they do leaks anyway, there are a ton of people (Mark Gurman probably the best example) that have made a career out of reporting their 'trade secrets'. Then there's the stuff they feed WSJ.
Heaven forbid the phone contained bombshell information about the minute incremental update that is the next iPhone that we've all been hearing about for six months +
Yep! The “leaks” they share are part of Apple’s tutti-fruitti, phoney baloney, plastic banana, good time, rock-n-roll PR to build hype.
I wonder if Apple supplied him with a company-mandated safe to keep it in? If not, then apparently it doesn't need to be in a "goddamn safe".
If what Apple alleges is true and accurate, Prosser deserves what is coming his way with a judgment. I also think it is very stupid of him to be posting about it. He is making the situation worse.
I think Apple goes after people not because of leaks but rather if they suspect or know that the leaker either stole a device (permanently or temporarily) to leak secret info, which is a crime, or purchased a knowingly stolen device. If you are a leaker that "guesses" or gets verbal info from inside/supply chain "sources", they tend to not care as much as that would be very difficult to prove in court. If this accusation is proven, it really is shady. Although, one can argue that it's also a waste of time and money for Apple especially over trivial things like the look of an incoming software update that's free to users. They should invest that into better methods of device security amongst its employees instead if they care so much.
You honestly just said Gurman acts mature? Dude has the biggest chip on his shoulder in history. Adults can goof around, that isn’t immature. Constantly throwing tantrums on the other hand.. that needs to be left in the playground days.
Guess he was right all along.
Earlier this year, YouTuber Jon Prosser shared multiple videos showing off what he claimed to be re-created renderings of what was then presumed to be called iOS 19 and which was eventually unveiled by Apple as iOS 26 at WWDC in June.
In his first video back in January, Prosser showed off a Camera app redesign with a simpler set of buttons for moving between photo and video modes, and he followed that up with a March episode of his Genius Bar podcast where he showed off the Messages app, complete with round navigation buttons at the top and rounded corners around the keyboard.
And he wrapped things up with an April video that gave a more complete look at the Liquid Glass redesign that ultimately debuted in iOS 26, with rounder, glass-like interface elements, pill-shaped tab bars at the bottom of certain Apple apps, and more.
While the Camera app redesign didn't exactly match what Apple unveiled for iOS 26, the general idea was correct and much of what else Prosser showed was pretty close to spot on, and Apple clearly took notice as the company filed a lawsuit today (Scribd link) against Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti for misappropriation of trade secrets.
Apple's complaint outlines what it claims is the series of events that led to the leaks, which centered around a development iPhone in the possession of Ramacciotti's friend and Apple employee Ethan Lipnik. According to Apple, Prosser and Ramacciotti plotted to access Lipnik's phone, acquiring his passcode and then using location-tracking to determine when he "would be gone for an extended period." Prosser reportedly offered financial compensation to Ramacciotti in return for assisting with accessing the development iPhone.
Apple says Ramacciotti accessed Lipnik's development iPhone and made a FaceTime call to Prosser, showing off iOS 26 running on the development iPhone, and that Prosser recorded the call with screen capture tools. Prosser then shared those videos with others and used them to make re-created renders of iOS 26 for his videos.
Lipnik's phone contained a "significant amount of additional Apple trade secret information that has not yet been publicly disclosed," and Apple says it does not know how much of that information is in the possession of Prosser and Ramacciotti.
In order to protect its trade secrets, Apple has filed the lawsuit to request an injunction against further disclosure of Apple's confidential trade secret information and is seeking damages over the misappropriation of them.
Lipnik's employment with Apple has already been terminated over his failure to follow the company's policies to protect development and unreleased devices and software. Lipnik also failed to disclose the breach to Apple once he learned of it through others who recognized his apartment in the recorded FaceTime call, with Apple learning of the details from an anonymous email.
Update 8:55 pm: In replies to our tweet about this story, Prosser takes issue with Apple's presentation of the events, claiming he was "unaware of the situation playing out" and saying he is "looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it."
Article Link: Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks
Anyone who publish trade secret of a company without company's written approval; that person weather works for that company or stole directly or indirectly is considered trade secret criminal, traitor of country. Company and country where this company resides should punish such individual or a group to maximum extent including large fine and multiyear jail time with worse criminals in prison.
Why ? Because such act puts company's product at dis-advantage against it's competitors. Millions of developers and investors like me in Apple and thousands of employees suffer financially in a short and long run.
Why ? Because such act puts company's product at dis-advantage against it's competitors. Millions of developers and investors like me in Apple and thousands of employees suffer financially in a short and long run.
It’s clear Apple just does not like Jon Prosser. I mean in the same news article that I just learned about this, (in the weekly roundup) Macrumors is literally posting about the folding iPhone…
Didn’t mark gurman even report that the next iOS was going to take inspiration from vision os? This is a sad move by a company who continues to go downhill.
Didn’t mark gurman even report that the next iOS was going to take inspiration from vision os? This is a sad move by a company who continues to go downhill.
Finally someone cracks the case on page 16 with a totally new insight that totally takes into account everything that has been said numerous times.
I don't know what his sources are, but there could be some that are legal. And honestly, I often see leaks as being on purpose. Even those that are ultimately false.
Haha I had to give my input. You’re correct that I did not read through 16 pages.
It's truly sickening how some people want to see Apple financially destroy Jon Prosser, yet those same people strongly defend Apple whenever individuals sue Apple for stealing their ideas and IP. Those people have more sympathy for a multi-trillion dollar corporation that for a lone indivual like Prosser, who has never even stolen any IP from Apple. But when Apple actually does steal IP from individuals, the Apple/Tim Cook fans are quick to defend Apple/Tim Cook. We live in a sick world where many people sympahize with trillion-dollar corporations more than with the little guy.
Someone robbed your house and took all your precious belongings? You should be thankful - MacRumor posters
It’s sickening to me when people decide a lawsuit solely based on ad hominem (or at corporationem, heh) reasoning, whataboutisms and a host of other fallacies.
That A has more money than B doesn’t mean that it’s legally or morally okay for B to steal from A. It’s also irrelevant to any reasonable decision whether A is a nice person, or whether A has done something wrong at some point.
The alternative that you’re advocating would be unpredictable corruption.
Someone you don’t like isn’t automatically wrong about everything, and someone you like isn’t automatically right either. You can be better than that.
Speaking for myself about wishing ill on the guy: I hated what little I heard of his podcast once, but I don’t have any personal animosity. If he did what’s in the complaint, he certainly deserves some kind of punishment for it.
Some people here are a little over the top with how they express their hate of Prosser, but that also applies to some people’s comments about Apple. Good thing that these people alone will not decide the case.
Apple exec's probably: "Wait...Prosser was actually right about something!? He must have colluded with someone to get that info!"
All these leakers should be banned. All the earnings taken from their channels. Fined.
The actual events have morphed into a ticking box list
No enjoyment whatsoever
The actual events have morphed into a ticking box list
No enjoyment whatsoever
I believe that is also corporate espionage.
Having an iPhone case day of launch is worth a lot of money, and Apple doesn't share that information until the phone is publicly announced (so, typically under two weeks before launch).
Do you have some examples that have been shown to have been on purpose? I'd be interested.
Also, like I said before, what would be the point of giving info to Gurman about some features one day before launch? If it's about gauging reactions, wouldn't it make more sense to leak the information at a point in time when it's still possible to change course if something doesn't go over well?
(Additionally, I think "design by the hottest take"would be kinda dumb. If you ask people what they want, they'll tell you faster horses, or in computing, support for ancient standards like VGA or Centronics printer ports or 32 bit apps.)
“Didn’t sit well”? Are people supposed to feel sorry for a 3 trillion dollar company? Your phrasing is off.
This guy is clearly in the wrong, but only because he likely benefitted financially by working with the Apple employee. It’s the Apple employee who will, rightly, be hardest done by through breaching his contract with his employer in this way.
Will be interesting to see how this goes, but I can’t see how Apple can loose.