Jon Prosser denies Apple trade-secret conspiracy claims in iOS 26 leak case

Jon Prosser has formally denied Apple’s claim that he joined a conspiracy to obtain trade secrets tied to alleged iOS 26 leaks. In a federal court filing, he asked for Apple’s complaint to be dismissed and sought legal costs and attorney’s fees.

Apple’s case centers on allegations that Michael Ramacciotti accessed a development iPhone connected to Apple employee Ethan Lipnik and showed unreleased software features to Prosser over FaceTime. Prosser’s response denies accessing that device or coordinating to obtain confidential material, while acknowledging that he was on a call where Ramacciotti showed unreleased iOS features.

Prosser’s filing also contests Apple’s claims about payments to Ramacciotti, arguing that any money came after the alleged disclosure and was not part of a prior arrangement. His defenses include arguments that Apple has not established valid claims, recoverable damages, or full secrecy around some of the information at issue.

The case remains unresolved, with no court ruling yet on Apple’s allegations or Prosser’s defenses. For creators and tech-focused communities, the dispute raises a broader question about where reporting on unreleased products ends and unlawful access to confidential information begins.