In a recent court filing, Apple claimed that tech leaker Jon Prosser has “still not” responded to the company’s lawsuit filed in July, which accuses him of stealing trade secrets. However, Prosser has countered these claims, stating in an interview with The Verge that he has been in active communication with Apple regarding the case. “All I can tell you is that regardless of what is being reported, and regardless of what the court documents say — I have, in fact, been in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case,” Prosser explained. He emphasized that the notion of him ignoring the lawsuit is incorrect, stating, “That’s all I am able to say.”
Recently, a court clerk entered a default judgment against Prosser, which indicates that he had not formally responded to the July lawsuit. This ruling allows Apple’s case to proceed without his input. According to Apple’s legal counsel, the company personally served Prosser with the lawsuit in July and informed him of an August 19th deadline to respond. The filing asserts that Prosser did not meet this deadline, and despite multiple inquiries from Apple regarding his response to the complaint, he “still has not done so.”
Apple’s lawsuit alleges that Jon Prosser, in collaboration with another defendant, Michael Ramacciotti, engaged in a “coordinated scheme” to steal the company's trade secrets and profit from this theft. The complaint details that Ramacciotti allegedly broke into a development iPhone belonging to a friend who worked at Apple. He reportedly contacted Prosser via video call to “demonstrate several features and applications” of what was initially referred to as iOS 19, which would later be officially named iOS 26.
Prior to the official announcement of this software, Prosser published videos that showcased significant changes to various features, including the Camera app, and previewed elements that would eventually be recognized as part of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language. These revelations have raised serious concerns for Apple regarding the safeguarding of its proprietary information and innovations.
The ongoing legal conflict between Apple and Jon Prosser highlights the challenges tech companies face in protecting their intellectual property. As the case unfolds, it may set important precedents regarding the enforcement of trade secret laws in the tech industry. Both parties are expected to present their arguments in court, and the outcome could have significant implications for the future of tech leak cases.
