Swat Raid the House of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen
Posted Tue, Apr 27, 2010 by Erica Abratique
The lost and found iPhone 4G was a case of a simple accident that could happen to anyone. It is perceived as one of life's cruel jokes for some, just a silly accident that is good for some corporate tales as well as a few laughs after the hyped died down. Everyone believed that no damage was done and that the issue will be buried after the prototype was returned unharmed. It certainly looked like the worst thing that could happen is Gray Powell, the guy who lost it, getting fired by a furious Steve Jobs but apparently something serious is brewing up and where infringement of copyright is concerned especially with a powerful company like Apple itching for some form of redemption, law suits are bound to follow soon.
The state of California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) SWAT unit destroyed the door and led a raid on the house of Jason Chen, an editor for Gizmodo. Gizmodo is an online web resource for the technological community and its staff members found the iPhone 4G prototype that Gray Powell lost in a bar during his birthday party filled with lots of drinking. After close inspection as well as taking pictures, writing notes as well as blogging about the rare find, they promptly got in touch with the rightful owner and returned the gadget. It could have been an open and shut case but Apple insisted on taking legal actions so that they could charge anyone who are found guilty with felony or attempts at felonious activities .
The SWAT team collected all the computers, electronic gadgets as well as online evidences surrounding the iPhone incident including browsing, electronic messaging and web history. Caches files will also be scrutinized closely as well as the log for calls and texts pertaining to the case in hand. The judge who served the warrant believed that Apple's case is strong enough for the courts to look at it but some analysts like Avram Piltch of Electronic Frontier Foundation speculate that Apple has bitten off more than it can chew once again because Jason Chen is an established and legitimate journalist and is thereby protected by the First Amendment of the American Constitution. This is similar to the failed lawsuit in May 2006 when Apple paid over $700,000.00 in attorneys' fees alone when they lost a case they filed against 20 “unnamed” online journalists who allegedly leaked information of coming products.
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