Apple Sends Bloggers to the Asteroids
April 18th, 2006
Written By: Adam Sussman
In one of the ten million emails I receive every day from Media Post Publications I thought this was worth noting. It turns out the folks at Apple Computer Inc. are not very happy with certain anonymous bloggers because they published details of a new product called “Asteroids”. The article states that Apple used legal methods to go after the ISP’s to reveal the sources of the bloggers. “A California appeals court this week will hear arguments in a case involving whether California’s reporter shield law applies to bloggers”.
This is an interesting issue that we should take notice of. The way it may play out in the media and courts is that new media bloggers should share the same legal rights as their TV and Print counterparts of not having to reveal their sources. It will be spun where this is a case of bloggers rights and that they should have the right to blog about anything.
To the disappointment of all bloggers I am going to have to side with Apple on this issue. Having the technical ability to write whatever you want does not mean you should write whatever you want. Its my understanding that the freedoms offered to the press were written to keep our government in check with it citizens.
I feel corporations should be protected by these same principles. Today anyone has the ability to blog about anything and it’ so simple for a disgruntled employee to release sensitive corporate information. The press is not allowed to release top secret classified information that was not meant to be seen by the general public because it could place our nation at a competitive disadvantaged against other nations. This should hold true with the leaking of classified corporate information (unless of course that corporation is run by Dr. Evil.)
I believe Apple Computer Inc. has a duty to all its stake holders to plug the leak.
This topic crosses over a larger issue; creating static laws in a world of dynamic technological change.
April 18th, 2006 15:05
I don’t think it’s an issue of whether they have the constitutional right to publish what they want and to report news (that is newsworthy) … but more an issue of whether they are reporting legally obtained information … or information at all. See, the “bloggers” are contending that this is news “obtained” … in fact it is News solicited and News profitted from … at the expense of Apple … I say “this information” is actually property in the form of business plans.
December 17th, 2006 14:23
[…] A few weeks back I posted about an issue with people leaking sensitive information on their blogs regarding Apple Computers new product line. […]