Latest news with #Apple-issued
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Apple sues YouTuber Jon Prosser: Who is he and how he 'used' an Apple employee's phone to extract company secrets
(Image via YouTube/fpt.) Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against popular YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti. In the lawsuit, the tech giant has accused them of orchestrating a scheme to steal iOS 26 trade secrets from a development iPhone. The company has accused Prosser of leaking confidential details about its upcoming iOS 26 software. Along with this, the video editor Michael Ramacciotti who is the accomplice of Prosser has reportedly accessed a development iPhone belonging to an Apple employee. The lawsuit claims Ramacciotti broke into his friend Ethan Lipnik's Apple-issued development phone while staying at his home, then showed the unreleased software to Prosser via FaceTime. Prosser allegedly recorded the call and used the footage to create "reconstructed" renderings for his YouTube channel. Who is Jon Prosser For those unaware, Jon Prosser is the creator of popular YouTube channel called Front Page Tech. He is known for leaking details about Apple products which are not yet released by the company. The lawsuit filed by Apple claims that in January 2025 Prosser gained access to early visuals of iOS 26's new Liquid Glass design, which resembles a lot to the final version showcased by Apple at WWDC 2025. Allegations made by Apple against Jon Prosser The Cupertino- based tech giant alleges that Ramacotti, a friend of Apple employee Ethan Lipnik, allegedly used Lipnik's passcode and then tracked his location to access a development iPhone while staying at his home. During that time Ramacotti made a FaceTime call to Prosser and showed him the unreleased iOS 26 features. Prosser then reportedly recorded that call and later used that to create monetised YouTube content. Apple also claims that Prosser promised payment or future job opportunities to Ramacotti for the leaked information. What information was leaked by Prosser The YouTuber leaked the details about the redesigned camera app with simplified controls. He also showcased the Liquid Glass design which featured pill-shaped tabs and rounded visuals. Along with this, he also talked about the early previews of the Messages app and other UI elevates which later appeared in iOS 26. What Apple is seeking Apple is requesting a jury trial and seeking multiple forms of relief: * Injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure of confidential information * Punitive and compensatory damages for trade secret misappropriation * An order requiring defendants to return or destroy any confidential Apple information * Recovery of legal fees and costs * Pre- and post-judgment interest The lawsuit includes claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Apple sues YouTuber who had planted 'spy' at Apple employee's house for iOS 26 leaks: Here's what happened
Image Credit - Pinterest TL;DR Apple has filed a federal lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to steal iOS 26 trade secrets from a development iPhone. The lawsuit claims Ramacciotti broke into his friend Ethan Lipnik's Apple-issued development phone while staying at his home, then showed the unreleased software to Prosser via FaceTime. Prosser allegedly recorded the call and used the footage to create "reconstructed" renderings for his YouTube channel, generating ad revenue from Apple's confidential information. Apple terminated Lipnik's employment for failing to secure the development device and is seeking injunctive relief and damages. Prosser disputes Apple's version of events, claiming he was "unaware of the situation playing out" and denies plotting to access anyone's phone. Who is Jon Prosser? Jon Prosser is a prominent tech leaker who runs the Front Page Tech YouTube channel, known for revealing unreleased Apple products and features. He gained significant attention in early 2025 for his detailed leaks of what was then called iOS 19 (now iOS 26). Prosser's iOS 26 leaks included: Camera app redesign (January 2025): Prosser showed off a simplified Camera app with streamlined buttons for switching between photo and video modes. Messages app overhaul (March 2025): He revealed the Messages app with round navigation buttons at the top and rounded corners around the keyboard. Liquid Glass interface (April 2025): His most comprehensive leak showed the glass-like interface elements, pill-shaped tab bars, and rounder design elements that ultimately debuted in iOS 26. While some details differed from Apple's final release, the leaks were directionally accurate and gave competitors advance knowledge of Apple's software designs. Why Did Apple sue Jon Prosser? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Apple's lawsuit, filed July 17, 2025, in the Northern District of California, alleges a coordinated scheme involving multiple defendants. The company's investigation began after receiving an anonymous tip on April 4, 2025, identifying Apple employee Ethan Lipnik as the potential source. 1. The alleged breach According to Apple's complaint, Ramacciotti used location tracking to monitor when Lipnik would be away from his Santa Clara apartment, obtained his passcode, and accessed his development iPhone. The device contained unreleased iOS 19 software and "significant amounts of additional Apple trade secret information that has not yet been publicly disclosed." 2. The FaceTime recording During the unauthorized access, Ramacciotti allegedly made a FaceTime call to Prosser, demonstrating the unreleased operating system. Prosser reportedly recorded the screen using capture tools, obtaining videos of Apple's confidential software designs and features. 3. Monetization and distribution Apple claims Prosser shared the recordings with others and used them to create content for his YouTube channel, generating ad revenue from Apple's trade secrets. The company says at least one person recognized Lipnik's apartment in the background of Prosser's videos. What Apple Is seeking Apple is requesting a jury trial and seeking multiple forms of relief: Injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure of confidential information Punitive and compensatory damages for trade secret misappropriation An order requiring defendants to return or destroy any confidential Apple information Recovery of legal fees and costs Pre- and post-judgment interest The lawsuit includes claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Why it matters The case highlights the ongoing battle between tech companies protecting trade secrets and the leak culture surrounding unreleased products. Apple's aggressive legal action sends a clear message about the lengths it will go to protect confidential information. Precedent for Tech Leaks: This lawsuit could set new standards for prosecuting tech leakers, potentially chilling the leak ecosystem that surrounds major product launches. Employee Accountability: Lipnik's termination demonstrates the career consequences for Apple employees who fail to protect development devices, even when they're not directly involved in leaks. Competitive Harm: Apple argues the leaks gave competitors advance knowledge of its software designs, potentially undermining years of secretive development work. FAQ Q. Did Jon Prosser actually break into the iPhone himself? No. Apple alleges that Ramacciotti physically accessed the device, while Prosser received the information via FaceTime and recorded it for later use. Q. What was Prosser's response to the lawsuit? Prosser disputes Apple's claims, stating on X: "I did not 'plot' to access anyone's phone. I did not have any passwords. I was unaware of how the information was obtained. Looking forward to speaking with Apple on this." Q. What happened to the Apple employee whose phone was accessed? Ethan Lipnik was terminated by Apple for failing to follow company policies designed to protect development hardware and unreleased software. Q. Is this the first time Apple has sued a leaker? While Apple frequently pursues legal action against suppliers and manufacturers who leak information, suing individual content creators and leakers directly is less common but not unprecedented. Q. Could there be more leaks from the same source? Yes. Apple warns that the development iPhone contained additional unreleased features that have not yet been publicly disclosed, posing ongoing competitive risks if the defendants retained access to that information. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Apple Sues Former Engineer for Allegedly Stealing Vision Pro Secrets Before Joining Snap
Apple has filed a lawsuit against a former senior engineer, Di Liu, alleging he stole sensitive company information related to its upcoming Vision Pro headset just before moving to Snap Inc. According to legal documents submitted in California on June 24, 2025, Liu, who worked at Apple from 2017 until his resignation in 2024, is accused of downloading thousands of confidential files in his final days with the company. Apple claims the data transfer occurred while Liu still had access to his company-issued laptop and credentials. Liu served as a system product design engineer on the Vision Pro, a highly anticipated mixed-reality headset positioned as Apple's most ambitious entry into the spatial computing space. The tech giant alleges that the documents Liu took included proprietary hardware designs, technology architecture, internal project codenames, and even sensitive supply chain details. What raises further concern for Apple is Liu's undisclosed move to Snap—a direct competitor in the augmented reality market, known for its Spectacles smart eyewear. Because Liu did not reveal his new employer during his resignation process, he was granted a standard two-week transition period, during which Apple alleges he misused his active credentials to access and extract classified materials. In the legal filing, Apple's attorneys stated, 'Worse still, the review of Liu's Apple-issued work laptop also shows that while maintaining access to Apple's Proprietary Information under false pretences, he used his Apple credentials to exfiltrate thousands of documents... from Apple's secure file storage systems.' While the lawsuit is directed solely at Liu, Apple's legal team highlights the suspicious overlap between the content of the documents allegedly taken and Snap's work in AR technologies. Though Snap is not named as a defendant, the implication is clear: Apple sees Liu's new position as a potential risk to its competitive edge. This legal action is part of Apple's broader push to protect its intellectual property. In previous cases, Apple pursued former employees suspected of leaking sensitive information, including a 2022 settlement with ex-employee Simon Lancaster and a 2024 lawsuit against Andrew Aude, which was later dropped after he apologized. As the case develops, all eyes are on how the court will interpret Liu's actions and whether Apple's claims of corporate espionage will hold up under scrutiny.
India Today
02-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Apple sues former employee for stealing and trading Vision Pro secrets
In yet another legal twist spotlighting Apple's unrelenting efforts to guard its confidential innovations, the iPhone maker has filed a lawsuit against a former senior engineer, accusing him of stealing sensitive company files before joining Snap, the parent firm of Snapchat and a known player in augmented reality hardware. Filed in California on June 24, 2025, the lawsuit accuses Di Liu, who had worked at Apple from 2017 until his resignation in 2024, of secretly downloading thousands of confidential documents in the days leading up to his departure. Apple claims these files were transferred to Liu's personal cloud storage while he still possessed his company-issued laptop and Apple, Liu served as a system product design engineer on its high-profile Vision Pro headset. This mixed-reality device represents the company's boldest venture into the spatial computing market. According to Apple, many of the files Liu is alleged to have taken related directly to proprietary information involving hardware design, technology architecture, project codenames, and even details of Apple's supply chain Apple says Liu failed to disclose during his exit process that he was joining Snap, a competitor in the augmented reality space and the maker of Spectacles, smart eyewear aimed at similar markets. Because of this lack of transparency, Liu was granted the usual two-week transition period after his resignation. During this time, Apple claims he used his still-active credentials to access and extract highly confidential information from the company's secure internal In the legal filing, Apple's lawyers criticised Liu's conduct as both deceitful and damaging, 'Worse still, the review of Liu's Apple-issued work laptop also shows that while maintaining access to Apple's Proprietary Information under false pretences, he used his Apple credentials to exfiltrate thousands of documents... from Apple's secure file storage systems.'Though Apple's lawsuit targets Liu alone, the company implies a strong link between the information allegedly taken and Liu's current responsibilities at Snap. Apple's legal team noted the overlap between the Vision Pro-related documents and Snap's own augmented reality products, suggesting that Liu may intend to apply Apple's proprietary knowledge in his new role as a product design engineer at the rival Snap is not named as a defendant in the case, the lawsuit subtly positions the social media company within the broader narrative of competitive risk, given the overlap in product aggressive legal stance in this case is not an isolated one. Over recent years, the company has gone to considerable lengths to pursue former employees whom it suspects of leaking internal information or intellectual property. Back in 2022, Apple reached a settlement with ex-employee Simon Lancaster, who had been accused of supplying confidential information to a journalist. Another high-profile case emerged in early 2024, when Apple sued engineer Andrew Aude for allegedly leaking sensitive material to the press. That lawsuit was eventually dropped after Aude issued an apology.- Ends
NBC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Apple sues former Vision Pro employee for allegedly stealing 'thousands of documents' before joining Snap
Apple has accused a former engineer for its Vision Pro headset computer of stealing company trade secrets before starting a new job at Snap, according to a lawsuit filed in California last week. In the June 24 court filing, Apple accuses Di Liu, a senior design engineer, of downloading thousands of documents in his final days at the Cupertino company last year and saving them to his personal cloud accounts. This lawsuit is the latest example of Apple publicly going after a former employee for leaking internal information. Apple is an intensely secretive company, and lawsuits like this one highlight how the iPhone maker exercises tight control over its internal information, even if it has to pursue legal action against former staff. Apple alleges that Liu didn't inform the company when he resigned late last year that he was headed to Snap, a competitor and maker of smart glasses. As a result, Apple did not shut off his access to accounts and allowed him a customary two-week transition period, which he used to download company files, according to the lawsuit. 'Worse still, the review of Mr. Liu's Apple-issued work laptop also shows that while maintaining access to Apple's Proprietary Information under false pretenses, he used his Apple credentials to exfiltrate thousands of documents containing Proprietary Information from Apple's secure file storage systems,' the iPhone maker's lawyers said in the filing. Many of the files downloaded by Liu had codenames for Apple projects and described the company's technology, product design and supply chain, according to the lawsuit. Apple says that all employees agree to keep Apple files confidential and that Liu broke confidentiality agreements he made when he joined. Liu worked for Apple between 2017 and 2024, according to the lawsuit. Liu worked on Apple's Vision Pro headset as a system product design engineer, per the filing. Liu did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC. Apple lawyers wrote that Liu could use the trade secrets in his work at Snap. Apple is not suing Snap, and the social media company did not respond to a request for comment. 'The overlap between Apple's Proprietary Information that Mr. Liu retained and Snap's AR products (for which Mr. Liu is a 'product design engineer') suggests that Mr. Liu intends to use Apple's Proprietary Information at Snap,' according to the filing. Apple is seeking damages and for Liu to have his devices inspected by a forensic examiner to make sure all the trade secrets are deleted. The iPhone maker has sued several former employees in recent years for taking files when they left the company. Apple settled with former engineer Simon Lancaster in 2022 over providing information to a journalist. Apple also sued a former employee, Andrew Aude, in 2024 over leaking details to the media. That lawsuit was dismissed after Aude apologized. The Cupertino company sued Rivos, a chip startup staffed by former Apple semiconductor employees, over its intellectual property, and settled in 2024. Additionally at least three former Apple employees have also been arrested and accused by the government of taking company secrets and giving them to China-linked organizations. One pled guilty and was sentenced to four months in prison, and two are still in proceedings.
