Misdemeanor Charges Filed For iPhone 4 Prototype Leak- Gizmodo Cleared
Who could forget the infamous iPhone 4 prototype that was allegedly lost in a bar in Redwood City, California last year. The man who started it all, Brian Hogan, claimed an Apple engineer was using the iPhone 4 prototype and then accidentally left it at the bar. Hogan took the phone home and proceed to cohort with his friend Sage Wallower, who reportedly suggested the two should shop the rights to the photos and eventually sell the device itself to numerous tech sites.
Hogan and Wallower shopped the device to various tech sites but Gizmodo revealed they were the site to actually purchase the prototype for $5,000 for its own exclusive coverage of the device. However, Gizmodo eventually returned the iPhone 4 to Apple after engaging in some heated back in forth correspondence with the Cupertino giant. Around the same time the blogosphere exploded as news of Gizmodo editor, Jason Chen’s apartment was raided by the police. Everyone seemed to have an opinion on who if anyone should be charged over the iPhone prototype.
Fast forward to today, the San Mateo DA announced they concluded that while Gizmodo did not act illegally, Hogan and Wallower did. Misdemeanor charges were filed for Hogan and Wallower for offenses surrounding their actions. Gawker, the parent company to Gizmodo had plenty to say about the charges.
“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.”
After Gizmodo published the leaked iPhone 4 story in 2010, they were subsequently banned from the Worldwide Developer Conference and other Apple related events.
