Nearly a year after Apple filed a lawsuit over leaked iOS 26 details, YouTuber Jon Prosser has now formally responded. He admits to a FaceTime call in which he was shown unreleased features – but denies that these were trade secrets or that he was part of a coordinated plan. His defense shifts the blame to the co-defendant.
The legal dispute between Apple and Jon Prosser revolves around leaks concerning the operating system then known as "iOS 19," which Apple later introduced as iOS 26 with the Liquid Glass design. For a long time, it appeared that Prosser would not defend himself substantively – but after a court overturned the default judgment against him, he can now formally contest the allegations. This is precisely what he has done with his recently filed statement of defense.
What Prosser admits – and what he denies
In his response, which according to a court document obtained by Apple was filed on Thursday, Prosser admits to having participated in a FaceTime video call with Michael Ramacciotti. During this call, he was shown certain "iOS 19" features and apps running on a development iPhone.
At the same time, he denies the central allegations. The information he was shown did not contain any trade secrets. He also claims he was unaware that the development iPhone belonged to former Apple software engineer Ethan Lipnik. He also rejects any conspiracy or coordinated action with Ramacciotti aimed at harming Apple. Prosser further states that he possesses no other confidential Apple information that he has not already disclosed to the company.
The responsibility should lie with the co-defendant
Prosser's defense clearly separates the roles: Ramacciotti's demonstration of the iOS 19 features during the FaceTime call was not instigated by Prosser. Therefore, Ramacciotti is fully responsible for disclosing the trade secrets allegedly held by Apple – if such secrets even existed. According to the defense, Ramacciotti is also responsible for all damages incurred by Prosser as a result of this matter.
How the proceedings came about
The starting point is a lawsuit Apple filed against Prosser and Ramacciotti in July 2025. In it, the company accuses the two of unauthorized access to Lipnik's development iPhone and monetizing the information found there. An anonymous tip via email reportedly alerted Apple to the source of the leaks in the first place; Lipnik was subsequently fired.
The proceedings initially took an unfavorable turn for Prosser – albeit through his own actions. After he let the deadline for filing a statement of defense expire, a default judgment was issued against him in October 2025, and in the following months he delayed the required cooperation while Apple attempted to force the release of evidence. Only the subsequent reversal of this default judgment paved the way for the substantive defense now presented.
The legal dispute will now continue as normal
With the filing of the defense, the case is back on a normal procedural course. The trial will be held in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; Prosser has requested a jury trial, where permissible. Whether the functions shown qualify as trade secrets under the law and how reliable Prosser's account is will now be determined in the regular proceedings. (Image: Shutterstock / Skrypnykov Dmytro)
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