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

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Hacp said:
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:.
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True, we don't know what really would happen if it had been turned over to the police. It's also tough to really analyze what happened as we can't be sure everything Gizmodo has said is true or the information they were given from the original finder was true.

There's a difference in your example however. If the computer is in the trash and tossed to the curb, then it's free for the picking isn't it?

The phone was not put in the trash. It was lost in the bar and at no point did the engineer that lost it ever claim it was not his. According to some reports, he was frantically calling the bar to see if anyone had turned it in.
 
Anonemous said:
/bets Steve Jobs will pay the popo to plant child pr0n on the the confiscated computers
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That Jason guy seems to be an apple fanatic. I'm surprised that I read he owns a Dell XPS, that seems out of place with all the other crud he has.

125o0pg.jpg
 
I mean if the employee that "dropped" the phone bricked it on purpose, isn't it safe to say that maybe he had some sort of grudge and was commiting some sort of corporate espionage? I mean, having the next iPhone on the "mean streets" months before it's planned unveiling is a huge hit for Apple, which arguably makes the most popular and most profitable phone in the world. I could imagine if the phone was mailed to some OEM in Taiwan or something... either way, I don't think all of the details are out there as of yet, IMHO
 
Err, what's with item no 1? Why did they seize his business cards? Do they think he's hiding secret messages in them?

Idea, maybe they say something like:
-Jason Chen -
Secret Apple Employee
 
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lol steve jobs gonna punch him in the anus

seriously though, there is a reasonable expectation that an iphone prototype is stolen, and that its not that other dudes right to sell it. he knew what he was getting into.
 
destrekor said:
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.
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Yeah I'd say this is closer to good old school investigative journalism than a felony. Journalists publish facts about companies they learn from secret sources all the time. Facts that said companies don't want leaked.
 
preslove said:
Knowingly buying stolen property valued over a certain figure is a felony in California. What's so hard to understand about that, people?
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It's a bullshit charge, that's what. Especially since the alleged "stolen" property was returned like before the police were involved.
 
gaidensensei said:
That Jason guy seems to be an apple fanatic. I'm surprised that I read he owns a Dell XPS, that seems out of place with all the other crud he has.

125o0pg.jpg
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You would think how much this task force officer is getting paid that he can at least spell? Must be that California education system.
 
Hopefully Apple sues Gizmodo and Gawker out of existence. These are bloggers who pretend to be journalists except when it comes to the ethical standards all true journalists adhere to.

What did Chen do wrong?

1) Purchased a stolen phone.
2) Leaked trade secrets about said device on his blog.
3) Dissembled the phone and leaked further trade secrets.
4) Profited from the above under the guise of journalism.
5) "Outed" and publicly ridiculed the Apple employee who lost the phone while vehemently protecting his source.

This ain't Woodward and Bernstein people. It's a shady blog trying to cash in on corporate espionage.
 
Raduque said:
Especially since the alleged "stolen" property was returned like before the police were involved.
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That doesn't matter. The purchase itself was illegal. Some guy comes up to you with a stolen car. You think it's legit to buy it off him, knowing full well that it's stolen?

Here is a concise breakdown of the situation I copied from engadget's comments:

It was stolen under California law.

There are some pretty specific things you have to do when you pick up a "lost" item before claiming it as yours. And once you sell something "lost", you are claiming it as yours to sell. So, the guy who found it never turned it in where he found it, never called police, instead called Apple's customer service line (indicating he knew it belonged to them), then when that got him nowhere, turned around and sold it to Gizmodo.

Once he sold it, it was stolen goods. And once Gizmodo bought it, they were receiving stolen goods.

The fact that they later returned it is immaterial. A guys steals your car for a day, then brings it back and says "no harm done, I returned it." That gonna fly with you or the cops? Didn't think so.

Gizmodo's in for a world of hurt here.
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As long as it is proved that Jason Chen knew that the dude selling him the phone was not its rightful owner, Jason is open to be charged with receiving stolen property.
 
dwell said:
Hopefully Apple sues Gizmodo and Gawker out of existence. These are bloggers who pretend to be journalists except when it comes to the ethical standards all true journalists adhere to.

What did Chen do wrong?

1) Purchased a stolen phone.
2) Leaked trade secrets about said device on his blog.
3) Dissembled the phone and leaked further trade secrets.
4) Profited from the above under the guise of journalism.
5) "Outed" and publicly ridiculed the Apple employee who lost the phone while vehemently protecting his source.

This ain't Woodward and Bernstein people. It's a shady blog trying to cash in on corporate espionage.
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1)It wasn't "stolen" it was "lost".
2-3) is bullshit. How would it be any different if the device was released then purchased and pulled apart to reveal what's in it?
4) is about the only point worth talking about. It was wrong to heap that much shit on the poor guy who lost the prototype.

preslove said:
That doesn't matter. The purchase itself was illegal. Some guy comes up to you with a stolen car. You think it's legit to buy it off him, knowing full well that it's stolen?
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There's a big difference between a stolen car and a lost phone.
 
Raduque said:
1)It wasn't "stolen" it was "lost".
2-3) is bullshit. How would it be any different if the device was released then purchased and pulled apart to reveal what's in it?
4) is about the only point worth talking about. It was wrong to heap that much shit on the poor guy who lost the prototype.
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1) The finder knew who the phone belonged to and chose to sell it Gizmodo rather than return it. Stolen property. If I find your watch and sell it to a pawn shop, is that not theft?

2-3) Leaking trade secrets. The phone was not released.

4) Apple has the kid announce the iPhone 4G on stage in June. Everyone is happy.
 
Raduque said:
It's a bullshit charge, that's what. Especially since the alleged "stolen" property was returned like before the police were involved.
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hahaha, yeah thats definitely how it works. Could i go rob someone, use their shit for a few days, then give it back and be a-ok with the police? Makes sense
 
Raduque said:
There's a big difference between a stolen car and a lost phone.
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That "lost" phone is worth more than most used cars when you consider the possible ramifications this has to Apple's share price.

And if something is "lost" then you have to try to return it to the owner or hand it over to the police. Selling it IS theft.
 
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