Razer's new prototypes stolen from CES booth (update)
"It is cheating, and cheating doesn't sit well with us."
While CES 2017 has drawn to a close, news surrounding the products unveiled at the world's biggest consumer tech event continue to make the headlines. Take Razer, which had a very encouraging week after unveiling two new gaming prototypes (one of which won two Best of CES 2017 awards). However, things ended on a sour note after company CEO Min-Liang Tan confirmed that two of its concept products were stolen from its booth on the last day of the show. "I've just been informed that two of our prototypes were stolen from our booth at CES today," said Tan on his Facebook page. "We have filed the necessary reports and are currently working with the show management as well as law enforcement to address this issue." It's not known which products were involved in the theft, but Razer's presence at CES 2017 was largely built around its new Chroma projector, dubbed Project Ariana, and a three-screened laptop that goes under the working title of Project Valerie. Surprisingly, it's not the first time that it has been victim to sticky-fingered opportunists. In 2011, two experimental Blade prototypes were stolen from Razer R&D lab in San Francisco. Tan has also refused to rule out corporate spying: "We treat theft/larceny, and if relevant to this case, industrial espionage, very seriously – it is cheating, and cheating doesn't sit well with us. Penalties for such crimes are grievous and anyone who would do this clearly isn't very smart." Update: It turns out that the stolen equipment was a pair of Razer's Project Valerie laptop prototypes (pictured above), according to a statement provided to Polygon: Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
"This note is to confirm that two Razer Project Valerie laptop prototypes were stolen from the Razer booth at CES. The product was taken from the Razer press room at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 8, 2017. A $25,000 reward is being offered for original information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of a criminal suspect.
Razer, in its sole discretion, will decide who is entitled to a reward and in what amount. Razer may pay only a portion of the maximum reward offered. The decision will be based primarily upon law enforcement's evaluation of the value of the information provided. When there are multiple claimants, the reward will be shared in amounts determined by Razer. Razer associates are not eligible for the reward.
This reward offer is good for one year from the date it is first offered, unless extended by Razer. Information about the theft can be sent to legal@razerzone.com. Razer will not publicly disclose material that it receives or details about respondents, except to those persons with whom Razer is directly working to resolve this matter or as may be required by law."
