Jon Prosser Paid $650 for iOS 26 Leak, Co-Defendant Claims
▼ Summary
– Apple sued Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti for allegedly conspiring to steal trade secrets from a development iPhone.
– Ramacciotti denies participating in a coordinated scheme but admits accessing the iPhone and showing iOS features to Prosser via FaceTime.
– He claims he did not track the employee’s location and was unaware of the sensitivity of the information due to the employee’s willingness to share it.
– Ramacciotti received $650 from Prosser after the call but states he did not expect payment and was unaware Prosser recorded the video.
– A default has been entered against Prosser for not responding to the lawsuit, and Apple plans to seek a default judgment.
A new court filing in Apple’s lawsuit against leaker Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti alleges that Prosser paid $650 for a FaceTime demonstration of the unreleased iOS 26 operating system. This payment, however, is a central point of contention, with Ramacciotti claiming it was made after the fact and not part of any pre-arranged agreement.
Apple initiated legal action earlier this year, accusing the pair of a “coordinated scheme” to illegally access a development iPhone belonging to a former Apple employee, Ethan Lipnik. The lawsuit further alleged that Ramacciotti used location tracking to determine when Lipnik would be away, enabling him to access the device.
In his formal response to the lawsuit, Ramacciotti admits to accessing Lipnik’s development iPhone and conducting the FaceTime call with Prosser, during which Prosser asked him to demonstrate specific iOS features. However, he vehemently denies tracking Lipnik’s location or participating in any premeditated conspiracy. His legal team argues that several weeks prior to the call with Prosser, Lipnik had willingly sat down with Ramacciotti and swiped through the new iOS features on the device. This action, they claim, led Ramacciotti to not “fully appreciate the sensitivity” of the software.
The filing provides new details about the financial transaction, stating that Prosser offered the $650 payment “at some point after the FaceTime call.” Ramacciotti asserts he was not expecting any payment from Prosser and did not initiate contact based on a promise of compensation. While he acknowledges receiving the money, he claims he was unaware that Prosser was recording the video call. The document also states that Ramacciotti denies currently possessing any Apple trade secrets, additional recordings, or other forms of confidential company information.
Regarding the lawsuit’s progress, Prosser previously stated he has been in “active communication” with Apple. However, the company has since indicated that Prosser “has not indicated” when he might file a formal response. As a result, a court clerk has entered a default against Prosser, allowing the case to proceed without his input. Apple now intends to seek a default judgment in its favor. Neither Prosser nor Apple provided immediate comment on the latest developments.
(Source: The Verge)
