Apple says Jon Prosser ‘has not indicated’ when he may respond to lawsuit
In a developing legal saga, Jon Prosser, a prominent tech leaker, finds himself embroiled in a lawsuit filed by Apple over allegations of stealing trade secrets. Earlier this week, Prosser revealed to *The Verge* that he has been in “active communications” with Apple since the lawsuit’s inception. However, a recent filing from Apple, reported by *MacRumors*, indicates that despite Prosser’s acknowledgment of the complaint, he has yet to clarify whether he will formally respond to it or provide a timeline for such a response. This uncertainty raises questions about his legal strategy as the case progresses.
The lawsuit, initiated in July, accuses Prosser and fellow defendant Michael Ramacciotti of orchestrating a scheme to infiltrate an Apple development iPhone to steal confidential information about upcoming features in iOS 26. Apple claims that this breach was part of a coordinated effort to profit from the leaked information, which Prosser showcased in videos prior to Apple’s official announcements. Compounding Prosser’s legal troubles, a clerk has already entered a default judgment against him, suggesting that he has failed to respond to the lawsuit, thereby allowing the case to advance. In its latest filing, Apple has expressed intentions to seek a default judgment that would include damages and an injunction against Prosser, further intensifying the stakes.
Adding a twist to the narrative, Ramacciotti has distanced himself from any conspiracy, admitting to sharing information about iOS 26 with Prosser but asserting that there was no underlying plan to monetize the information. He claims that at no point was there an arrangement for compensation when he reached out to Prosser. Interestingly, the filing also notes that Apple and Ramacciotti have engaged in informal discussions regarding a potential settlement, hinting at a possible resolution outside the courtroom. As this case unfolds, it raises critical questions about the boundaries of information sharing in the tech industry and the legal ramifications of leaking proprietary information. The outcome could have significant implications for both Prosser’s career and the broader landscape of tech journalism.
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Earlier this week, Jon Prosser, who is being sued by Apple for allegedly stealing trade secrets,
told
The Verge
that he has been “in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case.” But Apple,
in a new filing
on Thursday that was reported on
by
MacRumors
, said that while Prosser has “publicly acknowledged” Apple’s complaint, he “has not indicated whether he will file a response to it or, if so, by when.”
Prosser didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment from
The Verge
. Apple sued Prosser, who posted videos earlier this year showing off features that would debut in iOS 26 ahead of their official announcement, and another defendant, Michael Ramacciotti,
in July
. The company alleged that Prosser and Ramacciotti had “a coordinated scheme to break into an Apple development iPhone, steal Apple’s trade secrets, and profit from the theft.”
A clerk already entered a default against Prosser last week, which means he hasn’t responded to the lawsuit and that the case can move forward. In Thursday’s filing, Apple said it “intends to file a default judgment seeking damages and an injunction against him.”
Thursday’s filing also includes statements from Ramacciotti. While Ramacciotti “admits to” providing information about iOS 26 to Prosser, “no underlying plan, conspiracy, or scheme was formed” between them, Ramacciotti said. He also claimed that he “had no intent to monetize this information when he contacted Mr. Prosser, nor was there any arrangement at the time the information was conveyed that he would be compensation [sic].”
Apple and Ramacciotti have also “informally discussed settlement,” according to the filing.
