California laws are very specific about how lost or stolen property should be handled — and purchasing it for journalistic use is not among the sanctioned options. So commentators are questioning whether tech blog Gizmodo crossed a line when it bought an iPhone prototype reportedly left behind in a Silicon Valley bar by an Apple engineer and published a series of articles about it. Thus far, Gawker Media — parent company of Gizmodo — has denied any wrongdoing, but will it face legal trouble for purchasing the misplaced gadget?
Gizmodo broke the law: "Put simply," says Jeff Bercovici in Daily Finance, "Gawker Media brazenly, publicly flouted the law." It "subsidize[d] a crime" by purchasing the "technically stolen" merchandise — presumably from the unnamed party who found it in the bar. If Steve Jobs sues, "he will have justice on his side."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
