Free iPod

[cabinetman]

If it is an iPod, it is an Apple - only Apple makes the iPod.

Each unit Apple sells has a serial number, which they track. Any Apple store can tell or find out for you the registered owner or original puchaser for any Apple product, including all iPods.

If you mean a different brand of product (there are vendors who make competing products), it's not an iPod and Apple would not have the information.

Here is a link to iPod page, if you aren't sure if it is an iPod or not.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/

The back of the case has a stamping that says: iPod. So, it is an iPod. According to my wife (she uses hers daily) because there was music on it, it doesn't mean it was downloaded from iTunes, or any Apple site. It could have been loaded from a CD to the computer and downloaded to the iPod.
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[woodturner]

It could have been loaded from a CD to the computer and downloaded to the iPod.
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One does not have to buy the music from Apple.

My point was that Apple will know at least who the original purchaser of the iPod is - so the owner, or at least original purchaser can be identified, even if no music was ever downloaded.

[cabinetman]

One does not have to buy the music from Apple.

My point was that Apple will know at least who the original purchaser of the iPod is - so the owner, or at least original purchaser can be identified, even if no music was ever downloaded.

The iPod may have never had an account. It could have had several owners since new. Tracking the most recent owner is likely impossible.
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[woodturner]

The iPod may have never had an account. It could have had several owners since new. Tracking the most recent owner is likely impossible.
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Perhaps, but it's most likely that the original purchaser is the owner. These products don't seem to be resold much, but it's possible the one your friend found is an exception. In most cases, Apple will know the current owner, no matter how many times it has been resold, so it's usually easy to find the most recent owner.

If your friend contacts Apple, Apple can contact the original purchaser. If that purchaser says they sold it and the new owner did not register it, that should provide a reasonable defense that your friend did what he could to find the owner.

If the owner were to report is stolen and your friend was eventually tracked down through the device (if he has turned it on within range of an access node, he has already shared enough information to locate him), it seems this would provide a reasonable defense against charges of receiving stolen property.

Personally, I like to try to find the owner when I find lost property. If I lost something, I hope that a person who found it would try to get it back to me. You are correct, though, that while one is legally required to attempt to return found property to its owner, the risk of prosecution if one does not make the effort is often minimal.

[cabinetman]

Perhaps, but it's most likely that the original purchaser is the owner. These products don't seem to be resold much, but it's possible the one your friend found is an exception. In most cases, Apple will know the current owner, no matter how many times it has been resold, so it's usually easy to find the most recent owner.

If your friend contacts Apple, Apple can contact the original purchaser. If that purchaser says they sold it and the new owner did not register it, that should provide a reasonable defense that your friend did what he could to find the owner.

If the owner were to report is stolen and your friend was eventually tracked down through the device (if he has turned it on within range of an access node, he has already shared enough information to locate him), it seems this would provide a reasonable defense against charges of receiving stolen property.

Personally, I like to try to find the owner when I find lost property. If I lost something, I hope that a person who found it would try to get it back to me. You are correct, though, that while one is legally required to attempt to return found property to its owner, the risk of prosecution if one does not make the effort is often minimal.

If the individual that "lost it" was not thoughtful enough to take reasonable care of his property, filing a "stolen" report when it wasn't could be a crime.
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[woodturner]

If the individual that "lost it" was not thoughtful enough to take reasonable care of his property, filing a "stolen" report when it wasn't could be a crime.
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It's usually the insurance company that files the complaint (assuming the owner filed for it on his insurance). In any event, lost property that is found and not returned is then stolen, whether or not there was active intent or action to steal it in the first place.

Having something in one's possession that one does not own or have permission to have is sufficient for a "receiving stolen property" accusation.

Filing a false police report is a crime - but the report would be for lost or "mysterious disappearance", so it would not be a false report. Insurance companies often require the individual to file this report before they will pay the claim. If that property is found in the possession of another person, that person may be charged with receiving stolen property, since an item that is found and not returned to the original owner or turned in to the police is considered to be stolen.