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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Apple accuses YouTube influencer of illegally leaking iOS 26
YouTube influencer Jon Prosser allegedly violated Apple's intellectual property rights by illegally accessing and releasing trade secrets regarding the tech firm's iOS 26 operating system before its launch. Prosser and co-defendant Michael Ramacciotti allegedly misappropriated trade secrets and violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Apple says in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Northern California. Apple revealed its iOS 26 operating system on June 9 during its Worldwide Developers Conference but says Prosser released important details two months earlier. Prosser's YouTube channel, 'Front Page Tech,' commonly predicts tech launches of consumer goods, including popular Apple products. Apple says he and Ramacciotti schemed to 'break into an Apple development iPhone, steal Apple's trade secrets and profit from the theft,' Wired reported on Friday. 'Prosser, working with defendant Michael Ramacciotti, improperly accessed and disclosed Apple's highly confidential, unreleased software designs, including details regarding the unreleased iOS 19 operating system, which is now known as iOS 26, for Apple mobile devices,' Apple says in the lawsuit. Apple accuses the pair of conspiring to break into Apple employee Ethan Lipnik's development iPhone to obtain Apple's trade secrets. Lipnik worked for Apple from 2023 to 2025, when he was terminated by Apple over the leak, Business Insider reported. The tech firm says it received an anonymous tip on April 4 that accuses either Prosser or Ramacciotti, who shared housing with Lipnik, of engaging the Apple employee in a FaceTime call that discussed the pending iOS 26 release. The unreleased operating system at the time was known as iOS 19 among Apple employees. The anonymous tip says Prosser obtained details on the unreleased operating system's lock screen, home screen, app animations and app interfaces. It also says Prosser had video from the FaceTime call that shows the operating system's unique interface. Apple claims Prosser learned Ramacciotti needed money and roomed with Lipnik, who worked on the unreleased operating system. Prosser and Ramacciotti 'jointly planned to access Apple's confidential and trade secret information through Mr. Lipnik's Apple-owned development iPhone,' Apple says. The tech firm also says Lipnik provided it with an audio message from Ramacciotti that alleges he used location tracking to learn when Lipnik would be gone for an extended period. Apple says the message indicates Ramacciotti acquired Lipnik's passcode and 'broke into his development iPhone,' which Lipnik did not properly secure in accordance with company policy. 'As he detailed in the audio message, Mr. Ramacciotti made a video call to Mr. Prosser and 'showed [the] iOS' on the development iPhone,' Apple claims. 'He demonstrated several features and applications, disclosing details of the unreleased iOS 19 operating system,' Apple says. Prosser denies Apple's claims against him. 'This is not how the situation played out on my end,' Prosser said in an X post on Thursday. 'I did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone,' Prosser continued. 'I did not have any passwords. I was unaware of how the information was obtained.' Prosser said he is 'looking forward to speaking with Apple on this.' Apple says it suffered financial losses exceeding $5,000 over a one-year period and seeks monetary and punitive damages in amounts to be proven at trial, plus interest. It also seeks injunctive relief to cease Prosser and Ramacciotti's alleged release of Apple's trade secrets to third parties without written consent and to return or help Apple to locate and destroy any trade secrets that might remain under their control. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
3 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Apple accuses YouTube influencer of illegally leaking iOS 26
Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook addresses the 2025 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, Calif., on June 9, during which the iOS 26 operating system was announced. File Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA July 19 (UPI) -- YouTube influencer Jon Prosser allegedly violated Apple's intellectual property rights by illegally accessing and releasing trade secrets regarding the tech firm's iOS 26 operating system before its launch. Prosser and co-defendant Michael Ramacciotti allegedly misappropriated trade secrets and violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Apple says in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Northern California. Apple revealed its iOS 26 operating system on June 9 during its Worldwide Developers Conference but says Prosser released important details two months earlier. Prosser's YouTube channel, "Front Page Tech," commonly predicts tech launches of consumer goods, including popular Apple products. Apple says he and Ramacciotti schemed to "break into an Apple development iPhone, steal Apple's trade secrets and profit from the theft," Wired reported on Friday. "Prosser, working with defendant Michael Ramacciotti, improperly accessed and disclosed Apple's highly confidential, unreleased software designs, including details regarding the unreleased iOS 19 operating system, which is now known as iOS 26, for Apple mobile devices," Apple says in the lawsuit. Apple accuses the pair of conspiring to break into Apple employee Ethan Lipnik's development iPhone to obtain Apple's trade secrets. Lipnik worked for Apple from 2023 to 2025, when he was terminated by Apple over the leak, Business Insider reported. The tech firm says it received an anonymous tip on April 4 that accuses either Prosser or Ramacciotti, who shared housing with Lipnik, of engaging the Apple employee in a FaceTime call that discussed the pending iOS 26 release. The unreleased operating system at the time was known as iOS 19 among Apple employees. The anonymous tip says Prosser obtained details on the unreleased operating system's lock screen, home screen, app animations and app interfaces. It also says Prosser had video from the FaceTime call that shows the operating system's unique interface. Apple claims Prosser learned Ramacciotti needed money and roomed with Lipnik, who worked on the unreleased operating system. Prosser and Ramacciotti "jointly planned to access Apple's confidential and trade secret information through Mr. Lipnik's Apple-owned development iPhone," Apple says. The tech firm also says Lipnik provided it with an audio message from Ramacciotti that alleges he used location tracking to learn when Lipnik would be gone for an extended period. Apple says the message indicates Ramacciotti acquired Lipnik's passcode and "broke into his development iPhone," which Lipnik did not properly secure in accordance with company policy. "As he detailed in the audio message, Mr. Ramacciotti made a video call to Mr. Prosser and 'showed [the] iOS' on the development iPhone," Apple claims. "He demonstrated several features and applications, disclosing details of the unreleased iOS 19 operating system," Apple says. Prosser denies Apple's claims against him. "This is not how the situation played out on my end," Prosser said in an X post on Thursday. "I did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone," Prosser continued. "I did not have any passwords. I was unaware of how the information was obtained." Prosser said he is "looking forward to speaking with Apple on this." Apple says it suffered financial losses exceeding $5,000 over a one-year period and seeks monetary and punitive damages in amounts to be proven at trial, plus interest. It also seeks injunctive relief to cease Prosser and Ramacciotti's alleged release of Apple's trade secrets to third parties without written consent and to return or help Apple to locate and destroy any trade secrets that might remain under their control.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Apple files lawsuit against YouTuber over alleged iOS 26 leak
NEW YORK, July 19: Apple has taken legal action against prominent leaker Jon Prosser, accusing him of conspiring to break into an Apple development device and steal confidential trade secrets. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Prosser sought to profit from stolen information about the unreleased iOS 26 software. Leaks have long been a common occurrence in the tech world, especially involving companies like Apple. Industry insiders and leakers such as Prosser and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman frequently share predictions about upcoming Apple products, often citing anonymous company sources. While these leaks have become routine, Apple is now pushing back more aggressively. According to the complaint, Prosser, who runs the YouTube channel Front Page Tech, allegedly collaborated with a co-conspirator to gain access to an Apple employee's development iPhone running the unreleased iOS 26 software. The suit identifies the employee as Ethan Lipnik and states that another defendant, Michael Ramacciotti—who was reportedly staying at Lipnik's home—waited until Lipnik left before accessing the device. Ramacciotti then allegedly shared details of the unreleased software with Prosser via video call. Prosser is accused of using this early information in videos posted well before Apple's official announcements. The lawsuit also claims that Ramacciotti stated Prosser orchestrated the entire plan, promising to find a way to compensate Ramacciotti for his involvement. Prosser has publicly denied any wrongdoing and disputes the accuracy of the lawsuit's details. In a direct message, he told reporters, 'The details that Apple was given are just not accurate. I had no knowledge of how the info was obtained. He never told me he 'needed money' and I absolutely did not instruct him to act this out.' While Prosser acknowledges that he shared the leaked information on his channel — including calling it 'the biggest iOS leak ever'—he rejects any involvement in how the information was procured. The incident has had consequences within Apple. Ethan Lipnik, the employee whose device was allegedly accessed, was terminated for violating company policies protecting confidential information and unreleased software, according to the complaint. Apple and Lipnik have not responded to requests for comment. Tech analyst Anshel Sag of Moor Insights & Strategy described the lawsuit as 'quite significant,' noting a clear difference between Apple's allegations and Prosser's account, particularly as the employee involved appeared unaware of the leak. Sag emphasized that the key issue lies in the inadequate protection of the development device and the need to verify the origin of leaked information before public dissemination. He added that Apple has stronger legal tools in the U.S. to combat leaks compared to previous incidents often traced to international manufacturing partners. The complaint cites violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, both enforceable in federal court. Prosser said he only learned of the lawsuit through media reports. Expressing sympathy for Lipnik's firing, he stated, 'I wish he had shared with Apple what had occurred, and I wish that Apple would have connected with me for more answers—I would have gladly chatted with them.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Apple sues YouTuber: Why the iPhone maker is taking Jon Prosser to court over a leaked video call
How Apple says the leak happened Live Events What Apple is asking from the court Prosser's response (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Apple has filed a lawsuit against well-known tech YouTuber Jon Prosser, accusing him of stealing trade secrets and violating U.S. computer fraud laws. The case, filed in the Northern District of California, involves early leaks of iOS 26 — previously known by its codename iOS 19 — and details how confidential software features may have been accessed and shared months before Apple's official to Apple's complaint, first reported by MacRumors, the issue began in April when Apple received a tip that a development device had been compromised. The company alleges that Michael Ramacciotti, also named in the lawsuit, tracked Apple employee Ethan Lipnik's location to find a time when Lipnik was away from home. Ramacciotti then reportedly used Lipnik's passcode to unlock his development iPhone, which contained unreleased iOS 19 claims Ramacciotti made a video call to Prosser during this break-in and showed him the confidential software. Prosser allegedly recorded the video call using screen capture tools and later used some of that footage in a YouTube video. Apple says the video helped Prosser earn ad revenue while exposing private details from the development legal filing also says that Prosser supported the act by promising to help arrange payment for Ramacciotti. The company added that some viewers were able to identify Lipnik's apartment in the leaked content, which added to the credibility of its further stated that it does not yet know whether Prosser has additional confidential material from the device, which reportedly held other unreleased design is seeking a jury trial. It wants the court to order Prosser and Ramacciotti to return or destroy any confidential material they may still have. The company is also demanding financial compensation in the form of compensatory and punitive damages. Additionally, Apple wants an order that prevents both individuals from using or sharing any of its trade has already fired Lipnik. According to the company, he had no idea how his phone was compromised until others informed him after seeing the leaked Prosser addressed the lawsuit in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He denied the charges and shared his version of events.'For the record: This is not how the situation played out on my end. Luckily have receipts for that,' he said.'I did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone. I did not have any passwords. I was unaware of how the information was obtained. Looking forward to speaking with Apple on this,' Prosser said on court is yet to set a date for the trial.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Apple sues YouTuber over iOS 26 leak, says he had a friend unlock an employee's phone
In January, YouTuber Jon Prosser began showing off early renderings of Apple's iOS 26 on his channel, FrontPageTech. First was a redesigned camera rendering. In March, he teased Apple's "liquid glass" redesign, before giving a more thorough look in April. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Northern California, Apple says Prosser's leaks were ill-begotten. Apple sued Prosser and another man, Michael Ramacciotti, for misappropriation of trade secrets. Prosser denied Apple's recounting of the events in an X post. In the lawsuit, Apple says it received an anonymous tip linking Prosser's leaks to Ethan Lipnik, a software engineer at Apple from 2023-2025. Apple said it received the tip on April 4, months before the software debuted at WWDC, the company's annual conference where it launches products. Apple alleged that Prosser commissioned Ramacciotti to break into Lipnik's development phone. Ramacciotti was a friend of Lipnik's, the suit says. Apple says that while Ramacciotti was staying at Lipnik's house, he waited for his friend to leave, obtained the password for his device, and made a video call to Prosser showing off the features. Apple alleged that Prosser then screen-recorded the video call, recreating the features in new renderings and publishing his copies on YouTube. Apple also says in the lawsuit that Prosser showed the video to other individuals, one of whom noticed Lipnik's apartment in the background, causing them to tip off the company. "Apple takes great care to protect the secrecy of its unreleased products and features," the lawsuit reads. "These safeguards can only go so far to protect against bad actors determined to steal Apple's trade secrets." Apple says in the lawsuit that it has since terminated Lipnik's employment. Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Prosser, Ramacciotti, and Lipnik did not respond to email and social media messages seeking comment. Lawyers for Prosser and Ramacciotti have not yet been identified on the court docket. "This is not how things went down on my end," Prosser wrote in response to a MacRumors story about the lawsuit on X. "For the record: I certainly did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone and was unaware of the situation playing out." In its lawsuit, Apple asked the court for unspecified damages and an order preventing Prosser from disclosing other unreleased trade secrets that could have been on the device.
