Legal Victory For Bloggers!
From the San Jose Mercury News:
Applying strong First Amendment protections to bloggers and Web site operators, a San Jose-based appeals court today rejected Apple Computer’s bid for the identities of individuals who leaked confidential information on one of its new products.
In a 69-page ruling, the 6th District Court of Appeal broke new ground by concluding that bloggers and webmasters enjoy the same protections against divulging confidential sources as established media organizations. The decision sets up a likely challenge in the California Supreme Court.
I love Apple Computer so much that I have an Apple-logo tattoo, but this is one case where I’m glad they lost. The case will most likely make its way through the court system, giving some legal definition to the blog/website form of media. As you might imagine, I’ve been keeping close tabs on this one…
– Steve
One more reason to support the EFF.
6th District Court of Appeals in CA State Court?
Either way, it is nice to see this protected, however this can be overruled quite easily.
While this is a great victory for privacy and freedom, it is a tremendous blow to the name of legitimate journalism. Sorry folks, blogs are NOT part of the legitimate media.
I, obviously, have become a blogger, which I see as a form of time-delayed chat room, not reporting. Blogs are a place to share thoughts, ideas, and opinions, but are not a source of guaranteed journalism.
That being said, there are some journalists out there that use blogs, but not all blogs are backed by real journalists. Real journalists need not be a part of some grand organization, or IMHO even have formal training, but they MUST adhere to journalistic standards, such as fact checking, verification of sources, proper citation, etc.
Anyone can have a blog, and everyone should participate in social discourse, but all posts should be viewed with an eye of suspicion. Does the poster have an agenda other than to relay news and information? Is this the full story? What investigation and fact checking has occured to verify the post?
Blogging is entertaining, and can be informing. But it is dangerous to view blogs as a legitimate media source.
[REPLY Blogs are websites, period. And the web is a form of media. Period. Bloggers are by default part of the media. That does not make them legitimate anymore than Fox News is legitimate. To be a ‘Journalist’ does imply something beyond just being in media. Hell, some in the mainstream press that call themselves journalists probably shouldn’t.
Freedom of speach is freedom of speach. Technology has placed this freedom in the hands of more and more people. As always, it is up to others to determine what media they believe. – SLP]
You cannot compare the rantings of random individuals to true reporting done by journalists whose stories have been vetted by editors. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and blogs are a good way of expressing opinion. Being able to express opinion does NOT make the opinions factual or correct, however.
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That’s my rant, and I’m sticking to it!
[REPLY – Agreed, just as having editors and a major network behind you does not mean everything that goes out is also factual. Level of accuracy has nothing to do with being a form of media. – SLP]
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