Earlier this year, YouTuber Jon Prosser shared multiple videos showing off what recreated renderings of Apple’s upcoming iPhone operating system. At the time of the reveals, the new iPhone operating system was expected to be called iOS 19, but was called iOS 26 at the time of Apple’s official unveiling at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC25) in June.
Prossers first video showed off a redesigned Camera app that boasted a simpler interface that allowed user to move quickly between video and photo modes. A following video showed off the new Messages app, then a final video provided a closer look at Apple’s Liquid Glass design language.
Prosser said at the time of the video’s releases that he used an artist rendering in the videos in order to protect the source of the leaks.
Now, Apple on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Prosser and his cohort Michael Ramacciotti for misappropriation of trade secrets.
Apple says the duo conspired to get their hands on a development iPhone in the possession of Ramacciotti’s friend and Apple employee Ethan Lipnik. The duo allegedly worked out a way to get Lipnik’s passcode for the device, then used location tracking to ensure Lipnik wouldn’t be around for a lengthy period of time.
Apple says Ramacciotti obtained the development iPhone, made a FaceTime call to Prosser, and showed off the new software installed on the development device. Prosser used screen capture tools to record the call, then later showed those videos with other parties, using them to create the renders of the software for his videos.
Apple says the lawsuit filing is seeking to protect its trade secrets, block any further exposure of the company’s confidential trade secrets, and is seeking damages for the pairs theft of trade secrets.
As for Lipnik, he has been fired by Apple, due to his failure to properly protect the development of Apple’s devices and software. Lipnik reportedly did not alert Apple to the breach, even though he had been alerted by friends who recognized his apartment in the video from the FaceTime call. Apple apparently was alerted to the leak via an anonymous email.
Prosser told MacRumors that he doesn’t agree with Apple’s side of the story, and claims, “this is not how things went down on my end,” and that he is “looking forward to being able to speak to Apple about it.”
