Warrant shows Jobs' involvement in iPhone prototype case
updated 06:15 pm EDT, Fri May 14, 2010
Apple calls leak threat to iPhone sales
Apple and the company's CEO, Steve Jobs, were directly involved in instigating the case which led to a raid on Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home, an unsealed warrant reveals. On April 19th, Jobs personally contacted another Gizmodo editor, Brian Lam, and asked for the prototype's return. Lam refused without a letter acknowledging the iPhone's authenticity, citing a need to more aggressively pursue stories given poor cooperation from Apple PR in matters like the iPad launch. A day later, Apple lawyers and executives are said to have met with law enforcement.
One lawyer, George Riley, exposed Apple's motives in explaining how damaging the Gizmodo story would be. "People that would have otherwise purchased a currently existing Apple product would wait for the next item to be released, thereby hurting overall sales and negatively effecting Apple's earnings," according to Riley.
A previously anonymous informant in the case turns out to be Katherine Martinson, a roommate of Brian Hogan, the man who originally found the iPhone prototype before selling it to Chen. Hogan is said to have told Martinson that Gizmodo offered him $10,000 for the device, and also showed her a camera box with $5,000 in $100 bills. "Martinson said Hogan also told her that he will receive a cash bonus from Gizmodo.com in July, if and when Apple makes an official product announcement regarding the new iPhone," warrant documents observe.
Even as detective Matthew Broad began preparing a request to search Hogan's apartment, he is reported to have received a midnight call from Martinson, telling him that Hogan and another roommate, Thomas Warner, were removing all evidence linked to the prototype and leaving in separate cars. The trail led to Hogan's father's house, although Hogan's computer had been left at a nearby church. Warner was arrested there on outstanding misdemeanor charges, and told police that a prototype sticker fell out of his wallet at a Chevron station, and that a 512MB thumb drive and a 1GB Lexar CF card were under a bush. The hardware was later recovered, according to police.
Still to be resolved is the connection to Chen, who could face criminal charges if it is decided that he knowingly received stolen property. State and federal shield laws typically protect journalists and their sources, but not in all circumstances.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
"Jimmy Olsen" Chen should happily go to jail
for getting his "scoop." The people need to know about Apple iPhone prototypes and Chen was just fulfilling their need. The only thing that matters to a top reporter is the "story" no matter how much damage is done. If Apple loses millions of dollars and the dude who lost the iPhone is fired, who cares. Now we all know that was a honest-to-goodness prototype iPhone. Yippee! Chen is now going to get the "Tech Story of the Year" award and his cellmate Big Bubba is going to give it to him after the lights go out.