“In what is now just a small blip in the entangled world of Apple’s legal dealings these days, Gizmodo will not be officially charged after publishing photos and detailed information about the iPhone 4 prototype last year,” Rachel King reports for ZDNet. “However, the two individuals who didn’t steal but found the iPhone, but then sold it when it wasn’t theirs to sell, are being charged.”
Full article here.
Joshua Melvin reports for The Mercury News, “The Redwood City man who found a lost iPhone 4 prototype in a bar and then sold it to a website that covers technology now faces misdemeanor charges in connection with the incident that drew global attention.”
“Brian Hogan, 22, has been charged with one count of misappropriating lost property for selling the phone to tech site Gizmodo after finding it in a German-themed bar and restaurant in Redwood City last spring,” Melvin reports. “An associate of Hogan’s, 28-year-old Sage Wallower, has been hit with the same charge plus one count of possessing stolen property… Both men are slated to be arraigned Aug. 25 in San Mateo County Superior Court.”
Full article here.
Gawker Media, Gizmodo’s parent company, has published the following statement:
We are pleased that the District Attorney of San Mateo County, Steven Wagstaffe, has decided, upon review of all of the evidence, that no crime was committed by the Gizmodo team in relation to its reporting on the iPhone 4 prototype last year. While we have always believed that we were acting fully within the law, it has inevitably been stressful for the editor concerned, Jason Chen, and we are glad that we can finally put this matter behind us.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Winston” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Irony: Gizmodo’s Brian Lam leaves phone in restaurant; grateful an honest patron turned it in – August 21, 2010
D.A. withdraws search warrant after deal with Gizmodo’s Chen – July 16, 2010
Court begins examining Gizmodo’s Jason Chen’s computers, devices for 4G iPhone info – June 03, 2010
D8: Steve Jobs discusses passing Microsoft in market cap, AT&T, Gizmodo, much more (with video) – June 02, 2010
Apple claims huge loss over iPhone leak; knew who sold prototype to Gizmodo same day story broke – May 17, 2010
Judge unseals Gizmodo-4G iPhone prototype search warrant – May 14, 2010
Jon Stewart blows it, calls Apple ‘Appholes’ over Gizmodo’s 4G iPhone imbroglio (with video) – April 29, 2010
Rush Limbaugh: The fascinating case of the Gizmodo guys and Apple’s 4G iPhone – April 28, 2010
Gizmodo editor Jason Chen retains criminal defense lawyer in 4G IPhone prototype imbroglio – April 28, 2010
Why Gizmodo could be in deep doo doo over outing of Apple’s 4G iPhone prototype – April 28, 2010
4G iPhone: EFF criticizes police conduct in Gizmodo raid, says invalid warrant used – April 27, 2010
Did Apple call the cops on Gizmodo? – April 27, 2010
Police may allege that Gizmodo committed felony in 4G iPhone imbroglio – April 26, 2010
Police seize Gizmodo’s Jason Chen’s Macs, iPad, more after he posted next-gen iPhone video and pics – April 26, 2010
Police probe how lost next-gen Apple iPhone prototype ended up being purchased by Gizmodo – April 24, 2010
Did Gizmodo break the law with its 4G iPhone story? – April 21, 2010
Gizmodo posts videos, photos of ‘Apple’s next iPhone’ that was lost in a California bar (w/ video) – April 19, 2010
