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Police Seize Gizmodo Editor's Computers and Other Property Related to Lost Next-Generation iPhone

G

G4R2

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 29, 2006
547
4
Looks like Gizmodo is going to have some legal bills to foot:

http://gizmodo.com/5524843/police-seize-jason-chens-computers

Last Friday night, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo. According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code.
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/26/police-seize-gizmodo-editors-computers-and-other-property-related-to-lost-next-generation-iphone/
Apple is Disgusting: Jason Chen's House Raided

Just saw this:

http://gizmodo.com/5524843/police-seize-jason-chens-computers

I can believe it, but it shouldn't have happened this way. Apple undoubtedly holds a great deal of sway in these matters. Apple lost a phone. It is despicable that a company as large as Apple then relies on and pressures public resources, such as our police, to harass and steal from someone who embarrassed Apple over having lost said phone. Can you possibly imagine losing all your data in one day? All your computers, iPhones, iPads, and your backups of all your data too? It's unfathomable.
 
Of course Apple wasn't going to remain quiet after this....Unfortunately this will only give Gizmodo more attention.
 
Very interesting. Perhaps this really is a marketing scheme of some sort, because it is certainly generating a lot of buzz...
 
CocoaPuffs said:
Very interesting. Perhaps this really is a marketing scheme of some sort, because it is certainly generating a lot of buzz...
Click to expand...

I think the fact that the police are involved shows that it is not just a marketing scheme. The police won't go along with a hoax because Apple asked them too.
 
Chen was in possession of stolen property, the police raided his house.

You have no evidence the Apple had sway in the matter, it could merely be the media attention.
 
kdarling said:
Wonder how long before they find the name, and raid the home, of the guy who took the phone from the bar.
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you serious?

im sure they already have been there.


gizmodo gave up the name in a heartbeat in return for no jailtime for chen. watch
 
The really stupid part of all this is Apple didn't have to do a thing, Gizmodo have given the police all the information they needed with their posts over how they obtained the phone.

It's very clear they knew who owned the phone, that the person who'd found it didn't take any serious efforts to return it (considering that just leaving his number at the bar would have done it) and that they were paying money for a device that was not the legal property of the person selling it. They then published all this information for the world to see while bragging about how clever they are. Oopsie.

It's also very interesting to see Gizmodo's legal response which seems to hinge on a blog being a 'newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication' and I'm not entirely convinced that's how the legal system sees it. On a related note it's telling that even the Giz legal rep comes across as a bit of a dick when you read his 'this man is a journalist' letter.

Just for the sake of completeness I really hope Giz get nailed to the wall. Their chequebook journalism leaves a bad taste in the mouth but their exposing of the poor schlub who lost it, both naming him and publishing his picture, was ethically despicable and a clear attempt to boost their own readership by throwing him under the bus. For that alone I'd love to see them get a massive smackdown from the courts.
 
yg17 said:
**** you Apple.
Click to expand...

Why? All Apple did was report the matter to the police. It is up to the police to decide if the law has been broken and if so then to follow through to see if it is possible to prove the matter.
 
Police Seize Gizmodo Editor's Computers and Other Property Related to Lost Next-Generation iPhone




164343-chen_search_inventory_500.jpg


Gizmodo reports that police officers entered the home of its editor Jason Chen last Friday night, seizing four computers, two servers, and other items as authorized by a search warrant related to the site's purchase of a next-generation iPhone lost by an Apple employee in a Redwood City, California bar.

A total of 24 items related to the investigation were seized by officers, who broke down the door to Chen's unoccupied residence to execute the search warrant. Chen, who returned home from a dinner out to find the police in his home, notes that he discussed with the officers claims made by Gaby Darbyshire, Chief Operating Officer of Gizmodo's parent company Gawker Media that such a search warrant should be considered illegal under journalist protection statutes. Officers proceeded, however, with their search and seizure.
According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code.
Click to expand...
Gawker has filed its objection with the police department and requested an immediate return of the seized items.

Article Link: Police Seize Gizmodo Editor's Computers and Other Property Related to Lost Next-Generation iPhone
 
Gizmodo is a piss poor attempt at actual journalism anyway. I know that doesn't make a difference to the case but it boggles the mind as to why people are sticking up for these up their own ass, holier than thou idiots.
 
xUKHCx said:
Why? All Apple did was report the matter to the police. It is up to the police to decide if the law has been broken and if so then to follow through to see if it is possible to prove the matter.
Click to expand...

^ This. Sure Apple can turn a blind eye but they won't and we all know it.

Chen lost his iPad. :(
 
xUKHCx said:
Why? All Apple did was report the matter to the police. It is up to the police to decide if the law has been broken and if so then to follow through to see if it is possible to prove the matter.
Click to expand...

Do you really think the police would react this much or even get involved at all if one of us lost a phone that was then sold for $5,000 then returned to us? They might do something, but they wouldn't be raiding houses taking away computers and hard drives. It would be a very low priority case.
 
And that's why apple have been so quiet on the matter, why would in not be suprised if we hear next it was stolen and not lost.
 
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