“There are some things I hate about Apple. Topping the list is its propensity to shut out reporters who have a habit of breaking news the Mac maker doesn’t like. Last week, a California court agreed to hear a case in which Apple’s lawyers are pressing a blogger to reveal the source of a leak. Here’s the background: In 2004, rumor sites PowerPage and AppleInsider reported that Apple would release a device that would allow musicians to plug analog gear directly into a Mac to take advantage of the GarageBand composing software. Apparently furious with the leak, Apple filed suit. Its subpoena seeks to unmask the unnamed sources referenced in published stories,” Tim Beyers writes for The Motley Fool. “Welcome to the 1970s. Here’s your reservation to the Watergate. Please enjoy your stay; just don’t make a ruckus while you’re here. And don’t go talking to anyone named Woodward or Bernstein, please.”
Beyers writes, “Not that I’m unsympathetic to the idea of Apple or others protecting their trade secrets, but breaking a story about a product in development without revealing exactly how to build that product — as the bloggers did — doesn’t exactly strike me as corporate espionage. It’s just . . . news. What’s more, this is hardly the first time Apple has played the bully when it comes to leaks. Does anyone else remember MacWEEK? Long before AppleInsider, PowerPage, ThinkSecret, and others like them, MacWEEK was earnings enemies at Apple for breaking stories about forthcoming products. It also published lots of rumors. But now that the journalistic gesticulating has fled from the pages of ink-stained weeklies to the URLs of digital dailies, the rights of writers have suddenly eroded? Un-freaking-believable.”
Full article here.
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Related articles:
Apple questioned in ‘Asteroid’ trade secrets case – April 20, 2006
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Stop the presses! Apple sues ThinkSecret over ‘Headless Mac,’ ‘iWork,’ and other rumors – January 05, 2005
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Why can’t the bloggers just let Apple release their stuff when they want to? Why do they have to steal Apple’s thunder? If Apple wants to keep their stuff secret then it’s their right.
hahaha.. apple has always been anal about stuff like this. but i really dont care. as long as they keep making great products
If online journalists want to keep their sources secret then it’s their right.
I agree, Apple doesn’t need to focus so strongly on this kind of crap. It would be much better if instead they focused on the reaction to said rumor, and then make the friggin’ thing if it gets a strong reaction.
It is sites like this that feed the need for rumors. Honestly, I’m glad Apple is getting kicked on this one. It will allow for more overall freedom of reporting by the web journalists.
The sites in question, are not some kid making things up. They are ones that we as Mac fans have been looking to for details on up coming products.
It is a dual edged sword for Apple. They have this incredable fan base. What other computer manufacturer or manufacture for that matter has a fan base like this? On the other hand, the fan base needs to be fed. The appitite for information for Apple related information and tidbits of future information is what is driving the fan base.
Apple needs the fan base. They should not try to kill it.
Magic Word: police as in… Apple really shouldn’t try to police the internet. (leave that to George W Bush)
How does Magic work know what I’m going to say?!?
Bloggers aren’t real journalists… most of these bozos just recycle news that REAL news sources go out and GET. Hence, they’re not protected. It may be “news” but blogs aren’t real “news” sources…
Moe:
I agree totally. Apple has every right to file a lawsuit and let a judge decide. Apple is being proactive about what it feels is a serious issue. This has become a childish cat and mouse game with these bloggers. They cry like freakin little girls when they don’t get their way. Pathetic.
WTF?? If an idiot can file a suit for spilling hot McDonalds coffee on their dumb ass…..
Letter to Motley Fool:
Dear Sirs, Your analysis is absolutely wrong.
“Unlike the whistleblower who discloses a health, safety, or welfare hazard affecting all, or the government employee who reveals mismanagement or worse by our public officials, (the Macintosh news sites) are doing nothing more than feeding the public’s insatiable desire for information.”
“With all due respect, this is silly. Not that I’m unsympathetic
to the idea of Apple or others protecting their trade secrets”
You are calling the opinion of a Superior Court judge silly.
How are you qualified to make this statement?
Apple has a responsibility to its shareholders to protect its trade secrets.
Your analysis is so far off base that
I can no longer be a Motley Fool subscriber.
I am canceling my MF accounts and email subscriptions. Sincerely, RL
Why can’t the bloggers just let Apple release their stuff when they want to? Why do they have to steal Apple’s thunder? If Apple wants to keep their stuff secret then it’s their right.
—
This behavior is GOING to happen, but I must say, it punishes innovative companies like Apple, and benefits companies like Dell. The result is all companies decide to act like Dell.
When you get a patent, the information is simultaneously public, yet you hold the rights to usage of such information.
The problem here is the bloggers are making Apple’s secrets public, before Apple can claim any protection over such rights.
The Watergate stuff is just stupid–if Dell came up with original ideas, you’d hear it from them…same goes for Microsoft. In a country that champions individuality and innovation, this is how we treat the innovators?
What is the definition of journalism? When any bonehead with a blog can claim to be a journalist.
It’s my opinion that Apple clamps down so hard on unannounced product leaks because often the official announcement accounts for most of the advertisement of said product. Or at least the first big push down the hill before the media finishes the job. So for all you “Apple doesn’t advertise enough/correctly” folks…
…here’s your sign.
Recently moved to N.C. Steadily becoming a redneck.
The question here is that who is considered a journalist and whos not. If every pimple faced teen who keeps a blog is considered as one then god help us all! The line has to be drawn somewhere.
Dear idiots at Motley Fool’s
Go home, eat dinner out and take in a movie. While at the movie house stand up and yell “Oh MY GOD, HE’s GOT A BOMB!!!”
See how far you get.
Folks, Please consider a company like a family.
Would you want your family problems, ideas, and other assorted stuff aired to the pulblic, friends, or enemies?! It is like the Sun or what ever the current name for the trash mags.
Yes, the report is a right, but when does a right come at a price to others.
When you release a companies products before they do, you steal a lot of money-Marketing, competion, etc all get a head start.
It is wrong, for all the jouralist out their, if you want to release somebodys info why not ask your friends to dig up info on you and release it. Like bounced checks, money spent at clubs, and where/when you went out and with whom.
It may start to strike home then.
Example: The politicians complantions about windfalls of the oil companies and how they should declose0-have you seen any of these politicans list the amount of tax on gas? Stuff we buy? No-only others….because they do not want there dirt out in the open.
Same with news-they do not disclose there profits, news, and fight otherwise for their privcy.
I can’t believe people are STILL bellyaching about this.
Trade secrets were revealed. They want to know who did it. This is certainly within their rights to do so. Stop whining about it. There are FAR more important privacy and individual rights issues that need to be resolved than something as stupid as this.
I disagreed with Apple’s legal actions until someone mentioned two things: NDA and Microsoft.
NDA
The information leaked regarding Asteroid was not a rumour, guess or wishful thinking (like the move to Intel rumoured for years) but release to a blog of information received under a signed, legal non-disclosure agreement. It is a fully legal issue in writing that has been broken. If you can’t or won’t keep a NDA then don’t sign it – hang around in techy bars instead.
Microsoft
Apple has had 30 years of disclosing developer information to Microsoft and its friends only to find them release a ‘kludge’ version or pre-announce that the feature will be ‘in the next version’. This would be hugely frustrating to a company who waits until a product is perfect (as humanly possible) before shipping.
People seem to be confusing rumours and opinion with deliberate leaks. Today, in technology, time to market is money. And being first isn’t enough – you must be first with the right product (see the failing movie offerings).
Sheesh, you’d think we got hit by an asteroid. Oh wait. Never mind.
Apple wasn’t attacking the reporters, the reporters or bloggers if you will, were attacking Apple by releasing Apple’s trade secrets.
There are many reporters and bloggers out there that just don’t get this. It is not all about ‘Freedom of the Press’, it’s all about ‘Industrial Espionage’.
Hit the reporters or bloggers with a bill for lost income because of the published leak and they might understand where Apple is coming from.
Somebody broke the agreed upon NDA. The culprit needs to be found. Since the information was acquired illegally, then the story is not protected.
Similarly, a lawyer cannot testify against his/her client except under extremely unusual circumstances. If s/he does, s/he goes to jail and loses her/his admittance to the Bar.
Now, if the story was deduced from other bits of info or acquired from a legally protected source, the situation changes.
Who here remembers when Tom Clancy had to report to the gov’nt about some of the stuff in his books. He was hitting too close to home and they wanted to know who was tipping him off. He proved that all of his info was available from public sources and he just made deductions.
Double standards, anyone ?
Our blog sources should be confidential. Apple’s proprietary trade secrets, on the other hand, shoudl nto be confidential.
Another looser trolling for hits…
Read Daring Fireball’s much more interesting analysis of the case instead.
I like those little candies you get at Halloween. You know, those little things? They’re shaped like little teepees and they’re orange and yellow and white. Yep, I love ’em. Yaah, candycorns, I think. Mmmmmmm. Pure sugar. I love those little things. I can eat a whole 5 lb. bag full in about 4 minutes.
I love candy.
If a blogger/News source gets their information from someone who has broken their NDA, then that source is a criminal source. Apple should have the right to determine who has violated their NDA’s.
It’s one thing to speculate, and to post rumors and flights of fancy. We all do that. But it’s quite another to encourage people “in the know” (aka apple employees) to break their contracts. Apple’s trade secrets and timely announcements are a vital part of staying competitive in the market. It’s not a laughing matter. NDA’s exist for a reason.
I’ve purchased, and read nearly every Motley Fool book published, and used many of their techniques over the years. They’re a fine company with many innovative contributors who expect to be paid for their ideas. Because that is their product.
I would wager they’d be up in arms if someone (an insider) released their product (ideas) without permission. The parallel is not exact, yet in both cases, an untimed, uncoordinated release of information diminishes the value of each’s products.
It’s important to respect a creator’s method and delivery of product release.
“People go for help, but their lives don’t get better because of those blogs. They get worse. They feel numb and they’re told that’s a good thing. It’s how you degrade a society — by blogging the piss out of it.”