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  • MONDAY JANUARY 10 2005 1:35 PM

Apple Attempts to Stop Leaks with Legal Action

Submitted by LE

Edited by Shal

Back in mid-December, Apple obtained a court order that allows the company to subpoena the purveyors of three Apple-centric blogs. Why? These blogs (PowerPage, Apple Insider, and ThinkSecret) have publicized leaked information on a secret Apple project nicknamed "Asteroid."

Apple hopes to use legal force to gain information from the bloggers about their sources.

The question becomes one of journalistic integrity: Are the bloggers' sources covered by laws stating that journalists do not have to reveal their sources to the authorities?

From the Electronic Frontier Foundation's press release on the issue:

"Bloggers break the news, just like journalists do. They must be able to promise confidentiality in order to maintain the free flow of information," said EFF Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl. "Without legal protection, informants will refuse to talk to reporters, diminishing the power of the open press that is the cornerstone of a free society."

"I am very disappointed by Apple's behavior and its new policy of issuing legal threats to its best customers," added Jason O'Grady, publisher of PowerPage. "Is corporate paranoia really more important than the First Amendment?"

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Comments
Sexdwarf

Sexdwarf

Hermosa Beach, CA
February 2003

JAN 10, 2005 02:05 PM

Not the, but another, reason I don't like Apple. I suggest Apple follow Nintendo's lead and offer a free G4 to all the poor bloggers on those sites.

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

JAN 10, 2005 02:17 PM

Asteroid is awesome. I can get so far in it.

LE

LE

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

JAN 10, 2005 02:18 PM

yeah, it's depressingly out of character for apple.

Snidely_Whiplash

Snidely_Whiplash

New York, NY
September 2004

JAN 10, 2005 02:41 PM

The only thing of importance which differentiates Apple from any other "me too" PC cloner is its intellectual property. Secrecy is essential to Apple's nimble marketing techniques. I think the lawsuit is a sign of Apple's continuing aggressive research efforts & is a good sign.

jake_lex

jake_lex

Lexington, KY
February 2003

JAN 10, 2005 02:46 PM

I doubt that if Microsoft sued blogs running details of the next version of Windows, they'd find as many defenders.

Apple wanted to be as much a monopoly as Microsoft is. They erred in thinking that the future in computing was with hardware manufacture, not software.

[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by jake_lex]

capitalistfig

capitalistfig

Los Angeles, CA
November 2004

JAN 10, 2005 03:03 PM

jake_lex said:
I doubt that if Microsoft sued blogs running details of the next version of Windows, they'd find as many defenders.

Apple wanted to be as much a monopoly as Microsoft is. They erred in thinking that the future in computing was with hardware manufacture, not software.

[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by jake_lex]



Um, Last I heard, MS owned just under a controlling share of Apple. confused Can anyone back this up or refute it?

chestercopperpot

chestercopperpot

Bermuda
May 2004

JAN 10, 2005 03:08 PM

ImGeneShalitNow said:
Asteroid is awesome. I can get so far in it.




genius, pure genius

Maat

Maat

Jamaica Plain, MA
January 2004

JAN 10, 2005 03:13 PM

capitalistfig said:

jake_lex said:
I doubt that if Microsoft sued blogs running details of the next version of Windows, they'd find as many defenders.

Apple wanted to be as much a monopoly as Microsoft is. They erred in thinking that the future in computing was with hardware manufacture, not software.

[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by jake_lex]



Um, Last I heard, MS owned just under a controlling share of Apple. confused Can anyone back this up or refute it?



Microsoft at one point owned several thousand Apple shares, far less than "just under a controlling share", and has since sold the stock.

Regarding the parent post, Apple has shown no interest in being a monopoly, they want to be the Mercedes-Benz of computing by selling a premium product to people who are more interested in getting a high-quality experience than a rock-bottom price.

brainlesswonder

brainlesswonder

Pitman, NJ
September 2004

JAN 10, 2005 03:30 PM

It's funny how they try to act like a leak and a whistleblower are even close to the same thing. Yes, if Apple is building a computer that will rise up and conquer the world, then by all means they should be protected under the whistleblower statutes. However, if the information is the intectual propert of Apple Corp and has no ill-purpose than I have no problem with people that seek to undermine that being forced to pay the piper.

luckyride

luckyride

Portland, OR
May 2003

JAN 10, 2005 03:41 PM

"suck my yellow balls Mr. Ballmer."

beaky

beaky

Miami, FL
April 2003

JAN 10, 2005 03:43 PM

blog is such a dirty word

capitalistfig

capitalistfig

Los Angeles, CA
November 2004

JAN 10, 2005 05:41 PM

Maat said:

capitalistfig said:

jake_lex said:
I doubt that if Microsoft sued blogs running details of the next version of Windows, they'd find as many defenders.

Apple wanted to be as much a monopoly as Microsoft is. They erred in thinking that the future in computing was with hardware manufacture, not software.

[Edited on Jan 10, 2005 by jake_lex]



Um, Last I heard, MS owned just under a controlling share of Apple. confused Can anyone back this up or refute it?



Microsoft at one point owned several thousand Apple shares, far less than "just under a controlling share", and has since sold the stock.

Regarding the parent post, Apple has shown no interest in being a monopoly, they want to be the Mercedes-Benz of computing by selling a premium product to people who are more interested in getting a high-quality experience than a rock-bottom price.



Thanks smile

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