Old news by now, but out in San Mateo County, California….the local sheriff’s deputies searched the home of Gizmodo blogger Jason Chen, who created an online sensation among Apple fans when he posted information about a lost “iPhone prototype”. It has since turned out this mystical device was purchased by Gizmodo (for $5,000) from a bar patron, who it was later determined didn’t actually “own” the device.

So was the item stolen?! Gizmodo said the deputies, who had a search warrant when they arrived at Chen’s home Friday night, “seized two dozen pieces of electronic equipment, including computers, hard drives and digital cameras.”

This case raises several questions. Do journalism protection laws apply to a website contributor who’s parent company might have knowingly (or un-knowingly) purchased “stolen property”? If this case falls under the paradigm of “investigative news” in court, then the site has every right to protect their sources. Until all of the facts are known, the journalism community, and the tech community will have their eyes on this case very closely….Read more about it here