Whenever I struggle to organize my thoughts on an Apple-related topic du jour, it’s usually safe to say that John Gruber will do it for me within a few days.
The latest example is the situation with Gizmodo and a stolen iPhone prototype.
John Gruber, via Daring Fireball:
I have two issues regarding Gizmodo’s actions regarding this story.
First, I’m fascinated by their apparently cavalier attitude regarding the legal implications of their actions. I’m not offended by their decision to obtain this unit and publish everything they were able to ascertain regarding it. It simply boggles my mind the stakes they have effectively wagered that Apple will not pursue this legally.
Second, publishing the name, photographs, and personal information of the Apple engineer who lost the phone is irrelevant to the story. It was the dick move to end all dick moves. Gizmodo is, ostensibly, a gadget site. The interest of their readers in this saga regards the phone. Publishing his name did not clarify in the least bit how they obtained the phone. The people whose identities I’d like to know are those who obtained and then sold the phone, not the guy from Apple who lost it. There is no interest served by outing him other than taking sociopathic glee in making a public spectacle of someone who made a very serious but honest mistake.
This, I’m deeply offended by.
Me, too.
I only read two Gawker Media properties — Lifehacker and Gizmodo — but this is enough for me to stop reading both of them.
Comments on this entry are closed.