Police Open Investigation On Lost iPhone 4G Prototype
Silicon Valley police have opened an investigation into how Gizmodo came into possession of the iPhone 4G prototype, a law enforcement official told CNET on Friday.
Apple has spoken to local police about the incident and the investigation is believed to be headed by a computer crime task force led by the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office, the source said.
The purpose of an investigation is to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to file criminal charges.
Gizmodo, part of Gawker Media, paid $5,000 for what they believed to be an Apple iPhone 4G prototype. The iPhone was reportedly lost by an Apple employee then found by someone who contacted the site.
There has been much discussion online as to whether the finder/seller or Gizmodo violated any laws by taking possession of the device. CNET has not been able to confirm whether the investigation is targeting Gizmodo.com, the seller, or both.
The computer crime task force is called REACT, which stands for Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team, and was established in 1997 with a goal of working closely with Bay Area technology companies.
[Via iclarified.com]
Tags: Apple iPhone, Bay Area, Clara County, computer, crime task force, Gizmodo, investigation, santa clara county district attorney, Silicon Valley
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
i REALLY wish EVERYONE would stop speculating and posting pictures of this UGLY phone! this IS NOT the iPhone “4″ or “HD” infact i know this for a fact from a very reliable source!!! of course im not at liberty to tell but PLEASE believe me when i say that this IS NOT the phone and it could be just a decoy for Apple to keep ppl out of their shit! We’ll get a new iphone this year in due time as we all know just be patient and wait like EVERYONE else!
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:59 pm
This has turned ridiculous.
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
I understand your tired and I could care less about the iphone and looks since I own every apple device ever made since 07 which in turn means Ill buy whatever apple puts out regardless of looks, the reason I posted this is because its interesting and im sure people would like to know what apple plans to do with this.
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
@ SoSly not trying to be an ASS i go to this site DAILY maybe 3 times a day lol! i find this site EXTREMELY useful just tired of the “prototype” bs lol! i know this isnt the REAL iPhone thats come’n out this year so it doesn’t bother me that much tho!
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:30 pm
yeah it has gone so far already.. but i liked it tho..
as for the new design if it really is the new iphone i love it.. it really is time for a fresh design idc if its like the leaked ones but as long as they change it im happy
and i know apple is gnna have something on it that not all other upcoming smartphones have.. apple does that everytime they released a new one
so well see
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm
@Tired – you’re a douchebag.
April 24th, 2010 at 4:49 am
@Tired, shut the hell up you fag.
April 24th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Its cool tired don’t sweat it, we are all entitled to an opinion.
April 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am
this prototype is the final phone there is no way apple has something else up there sleeve but like so sosly i will def buy the new phone no matter what….apple is on top of there game right now n besides the apple tv i haven’t really seen them release a product that was straight ass
April 24th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
I personally know an employee of Apple and i commented on the fact that i truely believed that the whole story of the 4G iphone was a publicity stunt by apple, he assures me that it is not and that the pictures that have been circulating on the net of the new iPhone are genuine!