Reporters ordered to reveal Apple sources
 

Judge rules First Amendment doesn't apply to trade secrets

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A California judge on Friday ruled that three independent online reporters may have to divulge confidential sources in a lawsuit brought by Apple Computer Inc., ruling that there are no legal protections for those who publish a company’s trade secrets.........

“The journalist’s privilege is not absolute,” Kleinberg wrote. “For example, journalists cannot refuse to disclose information when it relates to a crime.”

In December, Apple sued several unnamed individuals, called “Does,” who leaked specifications about a product code-named “Asteroid” to Monish Bhatia, Jason O’Grady and another person who writes under the pseudonym Kasper Jade. Their articles appeared in the online publications Apple Insider and PowerPage.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7160519/