search warrants may not be validly issued to confiscate the property of a journalist.

Somehow I think I missed that when I was in school. Is there a ShieldLaw in that state?

The laws cited by the COO seem to say that a warrant can’t be used to learn the source of a journalist’s *information* but I wonder if it can be used to learn the source of *stolen property*.

And once again Gizmodo holds on to juicy information like this till Monday to get more page hits.

Nope, but it means that the ACLU, the EFF, and every other First Amendment group will be fully engaged. This is really beyond belief. I guess the way things are now is if you come into knowledge or possession of secret Apple information, you are NDA’d under threat of having your house trashed. At least the thugs didn’t kill his pets.

Just when I hoped Apple might show some class and humility in losing one that they lost, they fail to surprise me. They truly suck.

Yes, Apple, the aggrieved party (aka, “victim”) truly sucks for complaining to law enforcement that someone bought their stolen property from someone who stole it and took it apart and published everything they could about the property for their own profit. You know who else truly sucks? Rape victims. The nerve. It’s just penis. Suck it up and act classy.

Ah, the state of journalism.

Gizmodo pays for what is being considered stolen property, has an editor’s residence raided to recover pertinent communications

The Wall Street Journal flubs a story about the iPad being blocked by 3 universities, even though they have completely dispelled the story as incorrect (http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/no_ipad_ban_at_cornell_george_washington_or_princeton/)

What are we coming to? I’m sure my graduate journalism professor is rolling in his grave over these two.

Or not. He’d actually be laughing at the stupidity. He had a great sense of humor.

Just when I hoped Apple might show some class and humility in losing one that they lost, they fail to surprise me. They truly suck.

Yeah, because Apple certainly shouldn’t take action against someone who did something illegal against them! Give me a break. Illegal is illegal I don’t care how small or big you are. The “finder” knew it was not theirs, and knew it was worth something (they put a $5000 price tag on it), and Gizmodo payed $5000, so they knew what it was, and that it wasn’t the finders to sell. And obviously the DA and a judge thought there was a crime because a warrant was issued.

As far as protecting the journalist - maybe that is why they took his business cards - they list him as a Pro Blogger - is that a journalist?

It seems like harasment. What exactly is the point of serving a search warrant on Gizmodo or it’s employees?

Just when I hoped Apple might show some class and humility in losing one that they lost, they fail to surprise me. They truly suck.

Apple isn’t doing anything here - this is not a civil suit where Apple is going after the perpetrators. This is a criminal investigation by the police, which is the result of a decision made by the San Mateo district attorney. The DA apparently believes that a crime has been committed and is following up on it.

Don’t get the criminal and civil law processes mixed up here.

It seems like harasment. What exactly is the point of serving a search warrant on Gizmodo or it’s employees?

That’s an easy one. The DA is investigating the possibility that the iPhone was stolen. Gizmodo identified the Apple engineer that “lost” it, but hasn’t identified the individual that found the phone and sold it to them. So, the investigation starts with the Gizmodo employee responsible for purchasing the phone and writing up the article.

Just because a warrant was issued against Gizmodo doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who the police are after.

(although, I don’t buy Gizmodo’s explanation that they didn’t know whether the phone was stolen or not - it’s a prototype Apple phone, the person who sold it didn’t have the right to do so, etc.)

Ah, the state of journalism.

Maybe the profession set off down the wrong track with Gonzo.