iPhone 4

[[AK]Bribo]

The pawn store standard sounds about right - with the note that this store then tracked down who they thought was the rightful owner and returned it upon written confirmation.

The difference with the pawn store analogy is that in this case the pawn store (Gizmodo) didn't simply possess the item and then return it. They took it apart and then published detailed pictures and information on the item. They profited from the item. Only AFTER they had done all this did they then make sure it got back to Apple.

[[AK]Hylander]

The Appalling Reaction to the Apple iPhone Leak

[[AK]Bribo]

iPhone, Gizmodo and moral clarity about crime.

[[AK]Clay]

iPhone, Gizmodo and moral clarity about crime.

edit[*]
I did not find this to be very well written, and a bit preachy (now that's saying a lot coming from me! :laugh. I think the crux of most arguements is did Gizmodo knowingly participate as a party to theft when it purchase the phone? This article assumed absolutely yes. I think absolutely yes is an iffy statement.

In my opinion, no - because they did not know for certain it was stolen (it hadn't been reported as so) and they did go out of their way to contact Apple and see to it that it was returned.

My guess is the reason they published Powells name is to document that they did not obtain the phone via industrial espionage - a serious crime. And yes, it was still a dickish move, and not one I'll defend. They were jerks to do it.

As to the original finder, I would not hand a lost iPhone over to a random bartender. Walking out with it - he assumed responsibility to try and find the owner. Now that we're learning how little he actually did, it's very questionable if he can defend that as sufficient. Dumbass - even odds that Apple would have paid him 5k reward as a thank you, and sign here please about not breathing a word of this.

In any event, not Gizmodos problem - they were assured it was not stolen and were told that efforts were made to find the rightful owner. They then did due dillegence anyway. The fact that they took pictures in the meantime - sucks to be Apple, don't abandon your prototype phone in a bar.

The whole REACT heavy handedness still gives me the creeps.

[*] originally posted from my iPhone (which seems so fitting). Which isn't always the best for posting from. That will get better once the awesome new iPhone 4 comes out.

[[AK]Squidly]

edit[*]
In my opinion, no - because they did not know for certain it was stolen (it hadn't been reported as so) and they did go out of their way to contact Apple and see to it that it was returned.
[/I]

Out of their way? Weeks later after they had disassembled it and published the results? After they had outed the engineer for no good reason?
Apple approached Gizmodo first, and Gizmodo replied with a snarky letter. Then they forced Apple to issue a request for return in writing?

Hardly seems like Gizmodo went the extra mile to return the device.

[[AK]Choozoo]

Whatever the outcome, it sure did create a lot of buzzzzzzzzzzz. Now I want one

[[AK]Hylander]

Just an update:

http://goo.gl/n1rw

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) drove the investigation into the “lost” iPhone G4 that had police knocking down the door of the Gawker Media Gizmodo editor who paid for the prototype device after it was discovered in a bar. Cnet has the details in an affidavit. Apple complained the the device was “stolen” after it was accidentally forgotten in a by an employee bar not far from Apple’s headquarters. The company said that the device was priceless and that the disassembling of the iPhone by Gizmodo caused damage to Apple’s property. The big news here is that police were tipped off by the roommate of the person who sold the iPhone to Gizmodo.

Apple also complained that the publication of the images and video of the forthcoming iPhone hurt its sales, since prospective buyers of the device were likely to wait until the new one came out. Still, this argument seems a bit specious, since Apple consumers tend to expect constant updates to the company’s devices.

[[AK]Squidly]

The Appalling Reaction to the Apple iPhone Leak

It's theft and purchase of stolen property. Wait and see.

[[AK]Nuts]

The whole thing is a sham. If I found a phone in a bar I couldn't tell an IPhone from some crazy Chinese export. Yet some guy in a bar can identify prototype apple hardware by sight and begins a bidding war? The Apple Engineer and his buddies concocted this whole affair to make money.

[[AK]Bribo]

The whole thing is a sham. If I found a phone in a bar I couldn't tell an IPhone from some crazy Chinese export. Yet some guy in a bar can identify prototype apple hardware by sight and begins a bidding war? The Apple Engineer and his buddies concocted this whole affair to make money.

This would be an interesting twist. I almost hope that this is true just for the media firestorm that would ensue.

[[AK]Squidly]

The guy that "found" the phone picked it up and turned it on. The new phone has over 2x the resolution, so despite it being disquised in a faux case, it probably was evident that he had something unique in his hands.

He should've turned it over to the bartender or immediately to the police.

If the engineer was in on it (and I don't think he was) it brings into play a litany of industrial secrets law, which actually would be far worse for Gizmodo.