Gizmodo editor's apt. searched and computers seized over iPhone prototype

[preslove]

So, Jason Chen, the really annoying apple fanboy who writes for gizmodo, had his apartment searched by police and his computer equipment seized in the investigation over the iPhone prototype. Heh, I first thought it was all a staged event because "Gizmodo wouldn't be stupid enough to commit a felony and then brazenly post it on the 'net." I was wrong


http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/police-investigating-lost-iphone-prototype-raid-gizmodo-editors/

The backstory of the lost fourth-gen iPhone prototype acquired by Gizmodo last week is certainly already the stuff of some legend, but hold on tight, because it just got even wilder: Giz editor Jason Chen's house was apparently raided by California's REACT computer crimes task force under the authority of a search warrant on Friday night and his computers and several other items were seized. That means a criminal investigation led by the San Mateo police and district attorney is almost certainly in full swing, which is, well, crazy. As you know, we published images of the iPhone prototype last Saturday, so we're tracking this story as closely as we know all of you are. For now hang tight and we'll share more info as we get it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/26/jason-chen-gizmodo-editor_n_552572.html

SEATTLE (AP) -- Authorities seized computers, digital cameras, a cell phone and other items from a technology blog editor who posted pictures and details of a lost iPhone prototype.

A computer-crime task force made up of multiple law enforcement agencies searched Gizmodo editor and blogger Jason Chen's house and car in Fremont, Calif., on Friday, according to a statement and search warrant documents provided by Gizmodo.

The warrant, issued by a Superior Court judge in San Mateo County, said the computers and other devices may have been used to commit a felony. Steve Wagstaffe, spokesman for the San Mateo County District Attorney's office, confirmed the warrant's authenticity.

Members of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team took several computers, hard drives, digital cameras, cell phones and other gadgets, plus Chen's American Express bill and copies of his checks.

Last week Gizmodo had one of the Web's hottest scoops when it posted photos of an Apple device that appeared to be a next-generation iPhone. It had been found in a bar in Redwood City, which is in San Mateo County, and sold for $5,000 by an unknown person to Gizmodo, a gadget blog owned by Gawker Media Inc.

After Chen posted photos and details about the phone, Apple acknowledged the device belonged to the company, and Gizmodo returned it.

Gawker Media said California's shield law, which protects journalists from having to turn over anonymous sources or unpublished material to law enforcement during a search, should apply to Chen's property.
Story continues below

Wagstaffe said the district attorney's office is examining that issue.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling declined to comment.

 

[ric1287]

good. Idiots

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Wow, we never saw this coming!

Like I said, they should have turned it over to HTC or Microsoft

 

[frostedflakes]

Kind of sucks, but seriously, WTF were they thinking? Can't say I have a lot of sympathy for him or the other people involved.

 

[destrekor]

As much as I absolutely was foaming at the mouth over the level of retardation during that moment of so-called journalism, how/why is anyone under investigation?

They have been in contact with Apple, and have returned the device. They posted their story.

Not that I really care to defend them here, though I do feel relieved, if I feel anything, that this wasn't one big sponsored story. Sounds like it may all have been the truth.

Where's the felony, other than purchasing what amounts to known stolen goods, if it could be called stolen. But they didn't cover anything up, unless the employee who lost it is claiming he was drugged or something, lol.

 

[PottedMeat]

Wow, we never saw this coming!

Like I said, they should have turned it over to HTC or Microsoft

Or mailed to a chinese or indian factory for reverse engineering and mass production :awe:. Probably hit the streets long before Apple does, or maybe we'd see it on dealextreme.

 

[dougp]

What criminal charges is he facing? What exactly did he do wrong?

 

[waffleironhead]

What felony?

 

[Kelvrick]

Waste of fucking money.

 

[Hacp]

Wait, what felony did this guy commit? These guys tried to give the phone back. Apple refused to even acknowledge that it was their hardware, so they released ownership of the device. What a waste of taxpayer money.

 

[Kaervak]

Wait, what felony did this guy commit? These guys tried to give the phone back. Apple refused to even acknowledge that it was their hardware, so they released ownership of the device. What a waste of taxpayer money.

In California if someone loses something, it's still their property for quite a while afterwards. So the guy that found the phone was, under California law, selling stolen property. Gizmodo bought stolen property. That's the explanation I've heard.

 

[Hacp]

In California if someone loses something, it's still their property for quite a while afterwards. So the guy that found the phone was, under California law, selling stolen property. Gizmodo bought stolen property. That's the explanation I've heard.

Even if the owner denies owning that piece of property? The guy tried to return the hardware back to apple. He tried his best. Apple didn't bother accepting the hardware back.

 

[MotF Bane]

Impending PR nightmare for Apple? Good luck to this guy.

 

[QueBert]

Even if the owner denies owning that piece of property? The guy tried to return the hardware back to apple. He tried his best. Apple didn't bother accepting the hardware back.

What proof is there that he tried to return it to Apple though? I knew this wasn't a PR stunt between Apple & Gizmodo, Apple doesn't do shit like this.

 

[Hacp]

What proof is there that he tried to return it to Apple though? I knew this wasn't a PR stunt between Apple & Gizmodo, Apple doesn't do shit like this.

Theres probably phone records. Perhaps the NSA has them. Point is that the owner shouldn't have bricked the Iphone to begin with. He bricked it and that prevented the person who found the phone from knowing the owner's identity and returning it to him.

 

[AsianriceX]

Even if the owner denies owning that piece of property? The guy tried to return the hardware back to apple. He tried his best. Apple didn't bother accepting the hardware back.

Tried his best? Depends on your definition of trying I guess.

The common sense thing to do (without knowing that it really was a prototype) would be to either turn it in to the barkeep or turn it in to the police. Some have even suggested turning it in to an Apple Store so they could track it down.

Trying to contact Apple Corporate directly? Highly unlikely that the PR people you'd get into contact with would even know of the iPhone prototype's existence.

This site has a good analysis of the events:
http://daringfireball.net/2010/04/gizmodo_prototype_iphone

Edit: I just realize that you may be referring to "they" as Gizmodo, but in either case, if the property Gizmodo acquired was originally acquired through illegal means according to California law, Gizmodo can be liable for their actions. Returning the phone is an afterthought as they had already potentially committed a crime by purchasing "stolen" property.

 

[jtvang125]

What proof is there that he tried to return it to Apple though? I knew this wasn't a PR stunt between Apple & Gizmodo, Apple doesn't do shit like this.

He said he tried but what's funny about his story is that he knew who the owner was after unlocking the phone but made no attempt to contact him first before apple.

 

[abaez]

Theres probably phone records. Perhaps the NSA has them. Point is that the owner shouldn't have bricked the Iphone to begin with. He bricked it and that prevented the person who found the phone from knowing the owner's identity and returning it to him.

So then how did Gizmodo know exactly which engineer, including his facebook, owned it? I'm sure a really good effort was made to send a message to the guy and get it back to him right? :rolleye;

Some analysis here:

http://www.businessinsider.com/henr...ce-may-allege-that-gizcommitted-felony-2010-4

It's either one of two things:

1. They're trying to find who stole it in the first place (who giz bought it from).
2. They are going to bust Gizmodo for buying stolen property (felony in CA).

 

[Hacp]

He said he tried but what's funny about his story is that he knew who the owner was after unlocking the phone but made no attempt to contact him first before apple.

Maybe because he didn't have the owner's cellphone number since the phone was bricked?

 

[alfa147x]

Dumb fucks

 

[GaryJohnson]

I'm still not convinced this whole thing isn't a PR stunt.

-Waits for police to find emails on Chen's computer between him and Apple talking about staging this-

 

[Hacp]

Tried his best? Depends on your definition of trying I guess.

The common sense thing to do (without knowing that it really was a prototype) would be to either turn it in to the barkeep or turn it in to the police. Some have even suggested turning it in to an Apple Store so they could track it down.

Trying to contact Apple Corporate directly? Highly unlikely that the PR people you'd get into contact with would even know of the iPhone prototype's existence.

This site has a good analysis of the events:
http://daringfireball.net/2010/04/gizmodo_prototype_iphone

Edit: I just realize that you may be referring to "they" as Gizmodo, but in either case, if the property Gizmodo acquired was originally acquired through illegal means according to California law, Gizmodo can be liable for their actions. Returning the phone is an afterthought as they had already potentially committed a crime by purchasing "stolen" property.

Turn it over to the police? So it can be sold to fund California's massive budget? Hell no. If your neighbor throws away his new i7 supercomputer and you made him aware that the computer was in the trash and the owner denies owning that computer, what do you do? You salvage the computer and make it your new i7 supercomputer. You don't turn it over to the police :hmm:.

 

[SunnyD]

Wow. So Apple is now getting free publicity thanks to the tax-payers of California too. No wonder why the state is shit-ass broke.

 

[QueBert]

He said he tried but what's funny about his story is that he knew who the owner was after unlocking the phone but made no attempt to contact him first before apple.

The guy's full of shit, I'm sure if the police dig up his phone records he did call Apple. But for all we know it was to ask about a store location or something stupid just for proof he did call Apple. He made a half ass attempt, then sold the phone for 5g's. I would have turned it into the bartender, then at least if anything wrong is done with the phone it wouldn't be on me any more. The ironic thing is so many people were saying this was fake and Apple had done this intentionally. And now the truth comes out, and as a result they'll be getting even more press due to the police and dudes computer being seized.

a fucking win/win for Apple here.

 

[Hacp]

So then how did Gizmodo know exactly which engineer, including his facebook, owned it? I'm sure a really good effort was made to send a message to the guy and get it back to him right? :rolleye;

Some analysis here:

http://www.businessinsider.com/henr...ce-may-allege-that-gizcommitted-felony-2010-4

It's either one of two things:

1. They're trying to find who stole it in the first place (who giz bought it from).
2. They are going to bust Gizmodo for buying stolen property (felony in CA).

Probably because they were given the name of the guy but nothing else. Only through clever detective work did they find out the owner of the device.