Gizmodo iPhone blogger says home searched by sheriff’s deputies - Polidicks

[release] [B]Jason Chen, who had posted extensive information about a lost iPhone prototype, says San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies broke into his home Friday night. Gizmodo says they seized two dozen pieces of equipment.[/B] San Mateo County sheriff's deputies searched the home of Gizmodo blogger Jason Chen, who created an online sensation among Apple Inc. fans when he posted extensive information about a lost iPhone prototype, according to a message Monday on the site. Gizmodo said the deputies, who had a search warrant when they arrived at Chen's home Friday night, seized two dozen pieces of electronic equipment, including computers, hard drives and digital cameras. According to the warrant displayed on the site, the search was sought because the property may have been "used as a means of committing a felony" or could "show a felony has been committed." Chen described the search scene in an e-mail to his lawyer, also posted on the site. Having arrived home with his wife at 9:45 p.m., Chen said he found officers had broken through his front door. He said the officers searched him for weapons. Apple did not reply to a request for comment on the investigation. Last week, Gizmodo acknowledged having paid $5,000 for what the site said was a next-generation iPhone lost by an Apple engineer at a beer garden in Silicon Valley in March. According to the blog, another bar patron found the phone and eventually sold it to Gizmodo. The photos and description of the alleged iPhone prototype became one of Gizmodo's most popular posts ever, but speculation quickly followed thatthe site'spaying for an item the finder didn't actually own could have legal implications. Gaby Darbyshire, chief operating officer of Gawker Media, Gizmodo's parent company wrote in a letter to the office in charge of the search that the company believed the warrant was invalid because Chen is a journalist and the material seized was unpublished information that is protected by state and federal law. Darbyshire cited California law that says search warrants may not be issued for a reporter's "notes, outtakes, photographs, tapes or other data of whatever sort" that was not published as part of a report. "The California Court of Appeals has made it abundantly clear," Darbyshire wrote, "that these protections apply to online journalists," citing a 2006 case that also involved an Apple product. In that instance, the court held that Apple could not force writers at a technology blog to identify their sources. Tom Newton, general counsel for the California Newspaper Publishers Assn., said Chen's work should be covered by the shield law. But he said that authorities might "have a different opinion as to whether or not this person is a journalist, or maybe they're just ignorant of the shield law and the application of the Penal Code section to it." [url]http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-iphone-probe-20100427,0,5272705.story[/url][/release] [IMG]http://tenpercent.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/papers1.jpeg[/IMG]

Wow...That's kind of over the top..

So you're saying the people of Apple are fascists?

Good thing they searched him for weapons, never know what those "geeks" might be carrying.

[QUOTE=GhostSonic;21578707]Good thing they searched him for weapons, never know what those "geeks" might be carrying.[/QUOTE] It's standard protocol. Imagine if he did have a weapon and decided to use it. Better to be safe than sorry.

It is speculated that the police also held flashlights under their faces like so. [img]http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1346/arnoldtoht.jpg[/img]

Honestly, these Gizmodo guys are being massive pricks about this iPhone thing. Stealing the prototype (lost property much?), outing the guy who lost it, it's not journalism, it's hackery.

[QUOTE=PrismatexV8;21578825]Honestly, these Gizmodo guys are being massive pricks about this iPhone thing. Stealing the prototype (lost property much?), outing the guy who lost it, it's not journalism, it's hackery.[/QUOTE] I'd assume you would have some proof to this accusation that they stole the prototype? The only thing for certain is they posted information about the prototype and were subject to an unjustified (so far) action.

Dude, I found this sweet new phone and-- STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM. ALL YOUR PHONE ARE FORFEIT.

Remember that one time when that guy got nearly beaten to death for losing a 3g prototype in China? yea.

[QUOTE=PrismatexV8;21578825]Honestly, these Gizmodo guys are being massive pricks about this iPhone thing. Stealing the prototype (lost property much?), outing the guy who lost it, it's not journalism, it's hackery.[/QUOTE] Almost ANY tech blog would have done the same thing Gizmodo did, how could you possibly pass something up like that?

[QUOTE=JDK721;21578727]It's standard protocol. Imagine if he did have a weapon and decided to use it. Better to be safe than sorry.[/QUOTE] I know, doesn't mean I can't poke fun at the fact.

In my opinion, Apple should spend more time developing and perfecting their hardware, rather than re-releasing the same, although slightly upgraded, thing every year. But yeah, I think that they went other the top with this. Wouldn't a simple lawsuit suffice?

He deserves it. He should have turned it in like Apple had asked.

[QUOTE=TheSoupNazi;21578986]Almost ANY tech blog would have done the same thing Gizmodo did, how could you possibly pass something up like that?[/QUOTE] The phone is property of Apple, no?

[QUOTE=GhostSonic;21579148]I know, doesn't mean I can't poke fun at the fact.[/QUOTE] I didn't say you couldn't.

Good thing this wasn't in China, needless to say.

[QUOTE=GhostSonic;21579404]Good thing this wasn't in China, needless to say.[/QUOTE] Sun Luck Goo Wan Ding Dong Telecommunications would not be happy about losing their prototype iPhone knockoff.

[QUOTE=Hypernova;21579303]He deserves it. He should have turned it in like Apple had asked.[/QUOTE] Have you read the posts on Gizmodo. They are completely willing to give it back

Fucking Apple, Gizmodo said they're going to give it back.