As is well known by now Apple has filed suit against three Mac rumor sites. ThinkSecret.com being the most notable. The Washington Post today has a story on Nicholas Ciarelli better known as Nick DePlume, author of ThinkSecret. In the article Ciarelli states:

“I employ the same legal techniques as other journalists,”

Well, the problem I think is that while he may be using legal techniques to garner his information the problem arises when he publishes information that is covered by trade secret laws. And, as the article states all it takes to break trade secret laws is to knowingly publish information regarded as a trade secret which Ciarelli certainly knows by soliciting the information in the first place.

Understand, I’m not passing judegment on Ciarelli but what did he think was going to happen? He’s received numerous cease and desist letters in the past. Did he really think Apple was just gonna keep that up rather than one day dropping a safe on his head?

Regarding the people that gave Ciarelli the information in the first place. You sign a Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that means you won’t disclose. Pretty simple. That’s you giving your word you won’t tell anyone else. That means you made a promise. If you tell someone else, like ThinkSecret, then you’ve broken your promise. I have a low opinion of people that can’t keep their word. I hope Apple finds you and discloses all the information about your life you’d rather keep secret.

Anyway, enough about that. Small disclosure, I’m an Apple fan-boy so take what you will with a grain of salt but this is really written from the point of view of someone that doesn’t like when people break their word.

Teen Web Editor Drives Apple to Court Action free reg. required to read.
ThinkSecret.com