Bloggers aka online jounalists are afforded the same rights and freedoms as the press according to a court in California. This ruling stems from a case brought by Apple Computers against a couple bloggers that published leaked corporate information.
“Today’s decision is a victory for the rights of journalists, whether online or offline, and for the public at large,” said Attorney Kurt Opsahl of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights organisation who have been defending the journalists.
The bloggers in question were PowerPage, the Apple Insider and Think Secret. While the justices found for the defendant they declined to answer what is considered to be legitimate journalism.
In an attempt to uncover the source of the leak Apple had also subpoenaed Nfox.com, the e-mail service provider for PowerPage, to hand over messages that may identify the leak.
This subpoena was ruled unlawful.
[tags]Apple, Bloggers, EFF, California court, Journalism[/tags]