YouTuber Jon Prosser has introduced a new defense in Apple’s ongoing trade secret lawsuit. His lawyers question whether information about iOS 26 still qualifies for legal protection.
The argument appears in a joint court filing involving Apple, Prosser, and fellow defendant Michael Ramacciotti.
Moreover, the dispute comes more than a year after Apple accused the defendants of improperly obtaining confidential software information.
Prosser Questions Apple’s Trade Secret Claims
Prosser’s legal team argues that Apple’s trade secret disclosures require closer examination.
According to the filing, some information may have already entered the public domain through earlier disclosures or subsequent software releases.
Meanwhile, iOS 26 has become publicly available, raising questions about the current confidentiality of its features.
However, public availability does not automatically eliminate potential liability for earlier misuse of confidential information.
The case may therefore depend on whether Apple adequately protected the information when the alleged disclosure occurred.
Prosser also maintains that he has cooperated with Apple’s informal discovery requests.
Apple Disputes Claims of Cooperation
Apple challenges Prosser’s account of the discovery process.
The company says it still awaits important documents, including financial records and communications involving certain third parties.
Additionally, Apple argues that difficulties obtaining information from Prosser delayed the proceedings for nearly 12 months.
Ramacciotti, meanwhile, wants to limit his involvement in the continuing dispute.
His lawyers maintain that he has cooperated and should not become involved in Prosser’s more aggressive legal defense.
How the iOS 26 Dispute Began
The controversy began in April 2025 when Prosser revealed designs for Apple’s upcoming operating system.
At the time, observers expected Apple to call the software iOS 19. The company later released it as iOS 26.
Apple subsequently accused Prosser and Ramacciotti of misappropriating trade secrets.
According to Apple’s allegations, Ramacciotti accessed an Apple engineer’s development iPhone and shared confidential software details with Prosser through FaceTime.
Prosser initially denied the allegations, while Ramacciotti later cooperated with Apple.
Court Proceedings Continue
Ramacciotti has requested a hearing to clarify Apple’s remaining demands.
However, the court has not announced when it will address that request.
If the hearing does not proceed, the parties must submit another case update by December 2, 2026.
For now, the central dispute remains unresolved as both sides contest the evidence and legal protection surrounding Apple’s software.
