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There is indeed a lot of hate for Giz around here...

Please let me remind you of the last time Gizmodo did something juvenile. CES 2006: They turned off TV screens using TV-B-gone IR remote - causing chaos. They've been banned for attening CES roadshows for the lifetime.
 
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Not an American so asking for clarification (on MacRumors? who am I kidding?) It it was stolen and sold in California then it falls under California law? If it was stolen in one State and sold in another then surely this falls under the FBI's jurisdiction, or have I misunderstood what little I have gleaned from American films (movies is such a retarded term)

Gizmodo bought the phone in California from a guy who stole it in California and they knew the true owner was in California. Everything important took place in California. The phone never left califonia (according to TUAW - otherwise it would be a Federal crime).

California law fully applies.

I can't drive into Nevada, rob a house, then say Nevada can't arrest me because I don't live there. They committed acts in the state of California that were a crime. They are subject to califonia law.
 
Please let me remind you of the last time Gizmodo did something juvenile. CES 2006: They turned off TV screens using TV-B-gone IR remote - causing chaos. They've been banned for attening CES roadshows for the lifetime.

No need to remind me. In fact, no need to mention it at all, as that has nothing to do with Apple's interests or this article.
 
Actually, a bus might be a little different. It might be reasonable to remove a wallet from the bus IF there is ID and you make an immediate effort to contact the owner or turn it over to police. Even then, probably best (and possibly legally required) to turn it over to bus driver. The objective is to get it back to owner. But removing it from a bar where owner will return to get it is not acceptable.
 
No need to remind me. In fact, no need to mention it at all, as that has nothing to do with Apple's interests or this article.

Everyone is fed up of Gizmodo. They've done too many unprofessional things. One going beyond the line this time, potentially ruining someone's life.
 
No need to remind me. In fact, no need to mention it at all, as that has nothing to do with Apple's interests or this article.

It is part of the reason why there is a lot of hate for Gizmodo on here. Along with the fact they threw the employee under the bus.
 
It is part of the reason why there is a lot of hate for Gizmodo on here. Along with the fact they threw the employee under the bus.

Yeah. Judging by Twitter feeds and various gizmodo post update patterns, they seem shocked! that they aren't being hailed as heros. This is what happens when you hire a bunch of 23 year olds out of liberal art school, move them to SF or NY, and let them pretend they are journalists.
 
Today the am news reported that Apple requested the investigation. What we don't know is if they will press charges, go to trial, etc.

I think they would look bad having an enormous corporation prosecuting a hapless bar patron and a small "news" organization.

Apple would also run the risk of losing in court. If that happened, it would set a precedence they don't want.
 
It is part of the reason why there is a lot of hate for Gizmodo on here. Along with the fact they threw the employee under the bus.

:D I never saw the video.

But for the fact this is to do with Apple, none of the morally outraged would be here, (and this thread wouldn't exist), the turning-off-demo-screens prank has zero to to with it.
 
Everyone is fed up of Gizmodo. They've done too many unprofessional things. One going beyond the line this time, potentially ruining someone's life.

Not everyone, just those with agendas, everyone else gets entertained.
 
:D I never saw the video.

But for the fact this is to do with Apple, none of the morally outraged would be here, (and this thread wouldn't exist), the turning-off-demo-screens prank has zero to to with it.

True that event has nothing to do with this event, but it goes back to past behavior. Behavior of throwing the employee under the bus is nothing new for Gizmodo. That is why there is hate for Gizmodo. It isn't the first time they acted unprofessional.

Although come to think of it, wouldn't Apple like Gizmodo? Every time Giz would get inside info on Apple, Giz would happily sell out there source to Apple because they have no ethics. :p
 
Not everyone, just those with agendas, everyone else gets entertained.

Right, well, you obviously are "entertained" by seeing someone being publicly humiliated/defamed. Not everyone is like you. Such inappropriate and egregious things have their place.
 
I wouldn't dream of handing in a high value item to a stranger just because they happen to work there.


Then I suggest you start dreaming of it because that's what's legally required. And based on your postings, I'd much rather have it in the hands of the bartender than in your possession. Much better chance I'd get it back within the month.
 
We have a drunk Apple engineer leaving an iPhone prototype in a bar. We have a second party who found it and made good faith attempts to return it to Apple. Then we have Gizmodo offering $5k for it. Apple requests its return and Gizmodo complies in a timely manner.

So far the chief issue here is the $5k transaction, at least regarding criminal proceedings.

A number of problems with your analysis. First, it is not clear that he made a good faith effort to return it. Apparently, he called AppleCare - which for non-Apple customers is the Apple tech support hotline. I'm not sure why anyone would expect the tech support people to know anything about a prototype. Nor is there any evidence that he even told them it was a prototype. For all we know, he said "I found an iPhone. What should I do with it?" which is clearly not a good faith effort.

There are a zillion things he could have done that WOULD BE good faith efforts:
1. Answer the phone when the person who lost it called. Apparently, the 'finder' refused to answer it. Ordinarily, I wouldn't answer someone else's phone, but if I found a lost phone, I would assume that it's the owner or someone who knows the owner so I would answer it.
2. Turn it over to the bartender, or if he doesn't trust the bartender to the bar manager.
3. Call Apple HQ and ask to speak to the person in question (he knew the name at that point).
4. Leave a message on the person's Facebook page (which he also knew at that point) telling him he found the phone and giving him his contact information.
5. Deliver the phone in person or by mail to Apple HQ.
6. Call the Apple HQ receptionist and ask to be put in contact with Jobs' office because he found a lost prototype phone.
7. Turn it over to the police.
8. Put a free ad on Craigslist saying that he found a phone in such and such bar at such and such time and would the owner call him.

Some of those ideas are probably better than others, but they might all be considered a reasonable effort (particularly if he tried several of them). Simply calling tech support is NOT a good faith effort.

As for the rest of your post, there are actually TWO crimes here:
1. Theft or private property
2. Purchase of stolen property

Steve Jobs thinks he is above the law. I think the FBI needs to launch an investigation into whether Steve is tampering with due process of law by trying to bribe the Santa Clara police.

Steve Jobs thinks he's above the law because he wants California crime laws enforced? What bizarre logic. (Not to mention, of course, that it's not at all clear that Jobs even asked for the law to be enforced).

Oh, and btw, you are guilty of slander. I hope you have a good attorney if Apple chooses to prosecute.

Some of you need to pay more attention to the facts. As has been said repeatedly the "finder" went to bed and woke up intending to contact the owner but the phone was bricked. He then called Apple once he knew what he had and they blew him off. It's pretty clear he made good faith attempts.

See above. There's nothing good faith about it - particularly since he sold it for $5 K after an obviously contrived effort to call Apple's tech support group.

There's another interesting aspect that no one has mentioned. How did this random guy in a bar in CA who finds a phone that's disguised as an iPhone happen to call Gizmodo - a NY corporation? Is that the first person you'd think of to call to return the phone? Hardly.

Keep in mind that Gizmodo has a history of stunts like this and had a huge reward offer for Apple prototypes. I think it's more likely that they specifically hired someone to hang around bars where Apple employees congregate in order to try to get inside information.

finders keepers. .

Yes, if you're a 3 year old in a playground, that phrase is used. Fortunately, most people leave that stage of moral development by the time they get to Kindergarten.

I think this is very messy.

Apple likely cannot sue Gizmodo. Why?

First, for one: Gizmodo is a New York entity, not a California one. They have no duty to act under California law.

ROTFLMAO.

In a thread full of inane statements, yours is the most bizarre. Congratulations.

Where in the world did you get the idea that you could commit a crime in one state and then cross state lines and all was forgiven? If you commit a crime in CA, you can be charged in CA - regardless of whether you're from NY, FL or even another country.
 
Today the am news reported that Apple requested the investigation. What we don't know is if they will press charges, go to trial, etc.

I think they would look bad having an enormous corporation prosecuting a hapless bar patron and a small "news" organization.

Apple would also run the risk of losing in court. If that happened, it would set a precedence they don't want.


Pssssttttttt. California would be the enormous corporation prosecuting the slimeballs.
 
True that event has nothing to do with this event, but it goes back to past behavior. Behavior of throwing the employee under the bus is nothing new for Gizmodo. That is why there is hate for Gizmodo. It isn't the first time they acted unprofessional.

Out-with the Apple circle, they've pissed a few people off certainly, but the ardent types around here only care on this occasion because Apple is involved this time and that's the only reason why past form is getting a mention.

Although come to think of it, wouldn't Apple like Gizmodo? Every time Giz would get inside info on Apple, Giz would happily sell out there source to Apple because they have no ethics. :p

Win win :D
 
Right, well, you obviously are "entertained" by seeing someone being publicly humiliated/defamed. Not everyone is like you. Such inappropriate and egregious things have their place.

No, I get entertained by the agenda driven self-indignance that follows. :rolleyes:
 
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