Apple and Jon Prosser Coordinate Deposition in iOS 26 Leak Case

WORLD (Azat TV) – Apple and FPT’s Jon Prosser are actively coordinating a deposition, marking a critical new phase in the ongoing legal battle over alleged leaks of the unreleased iOS 26 operating system. This development comes despite a court having already entered a default judgment against Prosser last year, signaling Apple’s continued pursuit of substantial damages and injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure of its confidential information.

The lawsuit, initially filed in July 2025, accuses Prosser and his associate, Michael Ramacciotti, of misappropriating trade secrets and violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The core of Apple’s complaint centers on allegations that Prosser obtained sensitive information about iOS 26, including details of its ‘Liquid Glass’ redesign and features for the iPhone 18 Pro, through unauthorized access to a developmental iPhone.

Ongoing Legal Battle Over iOS 26 Leaks

The latest updates, detailed in joint status reports filed by Apple and Ramacciotti’s legal team, confirm that Apple has served Prosser with subpoenas for documents and a deposition. Prosser has acknowledged receiving these subpoenas, and both parties are now working to establish a date for his testimony, according to reports from MacObserver and Android Headlines. This move is significant because the deposition and the broader discovery process will be instrumental in determining the full extent of confidential information Prosser allegedly obtained and utilized, which will, in turn, guide the court’s decision on the amount of damages Apple may receive.

A default judgment was entered against Prosser after he reportedly failed to respond to Apple’s complaint by the court-mandated deadline. While Prosser has publicly stated that the notion of him ignoring the case is ‘incorrect’ and that he has been in talks with Apple, the default judgment legally means the court accepts Apple’s claims as true. Michael Ramacciotti, the co-defendant, has reportedly cooperated with Apple and the court, having been deposed in December and providing access to his computers and archives for forensic review.

The Allegations Behind the iOS 26 Breach

Apple’s lawsuit paints a detailed picture of the alleged scheme. The tech giant claims that Ramacciotti gained unauthorized access to a developmental iPhone belonging to his friend, Ethan Lipnik, who was an Apple employee at the time but has since been fired. According to court documents, Ramacciotti accessed Lipnik’s device when Lipnik was away and initiated a FaceTime call with Prosser, during which Prosser allegedly viewed iOS 26 running on the developmental phone. Apple asserts that Prosser proposed this scheme and offered financial compensation to Ramacciotti for his assistance.

The information allegedly obtained through this breach was then used by Prosser to create and publish renders for his FPT platform, including early glimpses of iOS 26’s Messages app and the ‘Liquid Glass’ interface in March and April 2025. More recently, in January 2026, Prosser and FPT continued to reveal renders of the iPhone 18 Pro, discussing features like variable aperture cameras and 5G via Satellite, further fueling Apple’s claims of ongoing misappropriation.

Apple’s Demands and Prosser’s Response

Apple is seeking a jury trial and demanding judgment in its favor, along with a comprehensive array of remedies. These include injunctive relief to prevent any future use or disclosure of its proprietary and confidential trade secrets without explicit written consent, as well as compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial. Crucially, Apple is also asking for punitive damages, citing the defendants’ ‘willful and malicious misappropriation of trade secrets,’ alongside maximum legal pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, reasonable attorney’s fees, and reimbursement of incurred costs, as reported by PhoneArena and 9to5Mac.

Despite the legal proceedings, Prosser has continued to publish leaks of upcoming Apple devices. The coordination of his deposition indicates that while a default judgment has been entered, the legal process is far from over, with the focus now shifting to quantifying the impact of the alleged leaks and securing final remedies. A second case status update is scheduled for April 13, 2026, which may provide further insights into the progression of this high-profile case.

The active pursuit of Prosser’s deposition, even after a default judgment, underscores Apple’s unwavering stance against leaks and its determination to establish the full scope of trade secret misappropriation. This move is not merely about a win; it is a strategic effort to deter future leakers by demonstrating the severe legal and financial consequences of unauthorized disclosures, particularly concerning its flagship products and software.