U.S. District Judge James Donato reopened the case against tech commentator Jon Prosser after the judge set aside a default entered when Prosser missed multiple filing deadlines in Apple’s trade‑secret lawsuit. The default had barred him from contesting Apple’s allegations that he helped leak the company’s upcoming iOS 26 redesign.

Apple’s complaint says Prosser joined a FaceTime call with co‑defendant Michael Ramacciotti, who allegedly accessed a development iPhone belonging to former Apple employee Ethan Lipnik, learned its passcode, and displayed unreleased interface changes. Prosser then published two videos recreating the leaked features, prompting Apple to sue for trade‑secret misappropriation and CFAA violations.

In his answer filed today, Prosser denies any conspiracy to break into Apple’s development device or to profit from the leak. He claims he never agreed to pre‑arranged payments with Ramacciotti and that any revenue sharing from YouTube ads occurred only after the videos were posted. Prosser argues the disclosures were journalistic reporting, not coordinated theft.

Prosser’s filing also contests Apple’s claimed damages, labeling them speculative and noting the company failed to mitigate any loss. He seeks dismissal with prejudice, reimbursement of attorney fees, and a jury trial on all issues. By re‑entering the litigation, Prosser forces Apple to address the merits rather than proceeding on a default judgment.