Revealing Apple's trade secrets akin to terrorism

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 11:27

Opinion and Analysis

The US journalist who got his hands on, and revealed details of, Apple's next iPhone has been subject to the type of treatment meted out by police to suspects of terrorism and major crimes.

 

Gizmodo reported that California Police, armed with a search warrant, had raided the home of its journalist, Jason Chen, in his absence, smashed in the door and seized four computers.

Gizmodo reproduced the search warrant showing that Chen had been suspected of committing a felony and that the computer systems had been seized on the basis of suspicion that they had been used to commit the felony.

My reaction was outrage. The iPhone in question - disguised as the current model - had been left in a bar by an Apple employee, picked up by an unsuspecting occupant of the bar and had found its way to Gizmodo after the discoverer realised it was no ordinary iPhone.

These facts have been well documented and are not in dispute. So why, presumably on the instigation of Apple is Chen being treated like a terrorist over what, leaving aside the outing of Apple secrets is at worst the theft of a mobile phone?

If one of Chen's neighbours, work colleagues, or friends had rocked up at the police station and said: "Hey this guy stole my phone" I can hardly image a response of this magnitude.

CONTINUED