p2pnet - rss feed: EFF backs Apple victims
p2pnet.net News:- “When someone spreads a rumor about you, your best bet is to call it slander and file suit. Go to court and prove that it was knowingly false or malicious and has damaged your reputation and sullied your good name. God forbid a writer got this information from some anonymous source, believed it to be true and then published it. Good luck getting anything but a belated retraction buried somewhere. Behold the power of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America!”
So said PowerPage’s Bob Snow, going on:
“Think Secret published a rumor about future Apple products and Apple filed suit against the authors. Does Apple now have to prove that these rumors are true rather than false?”
Now PowerPage is in the receiving end for posting information about code-name “Asteroid” which may be announced at Macworld.
Also in Apple’s sights is AppleInsider, says the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) which is representing both blog publishers in their efforts to keep confidential the identities of the people who supplied them with the data.
“Apple Computer is expected to introduce a new audio interface for GarageBand users in the coming months,” wrote AppleInsider in November. “The analog FireWire audio device, the first product of its recently created iPod division, will allow users to directly record audio using any Mac and Apple’s GarageBand music studio application. According to reputable sources, the company is on track to begin manufacturing the device overseas next month.
“The device, code-named ‘Q97′ or ‘Asteroid,’ has been under development at the company for the better part of the year. Typically referred to as a ‘breakout box’ in the music recording industry, the external audio device attaches to a computer and offers audio inputs and outputs for attaching instruments or other audio sources. Apple is reportedly building the device around GarageBand, its popular application for aspiring musicians.
“According to sources, Asteroid will include two XLR / TRS audio input connectors, two RCA analog output jacks, and a standard headphone jack. The device will draw power through a single FireWire 400 port and include a phantom on/off power switch.
“In addition to the aforementioned specs, a more advanced version of the Asteroid device—recently seen floating around the Apple’s Cupertino campus - sports an additional S/PDIF optical output port; however, it is unclear which version the company will ultimately send to manufacturing.”
Then, on December 13, Apple filed suit against ‘Does 1-20’ in a Santa Clara court, says the EFF, going on:
“The company obtained a court order that allows it to issue subpoenas to AppleInsider and PowerPage for the names of the ‘Does’ who allegedly leaked the information in question.
“EFF is defending the publishers against these subpoenas, arguing that the anonymity of bloggers’ sources is protected by the same laws that protect sources providing information to journalists.”
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See:-
call it slander - Don’t Tread on Think Secret, PowerPage, January 7, 2005
Asteroid - Apple developing FireWire audio interface for GarageBand, AppleInsider, Novermber 23, 2004
Does 1-20 - Apple Can’t Strongarm Bloggers, EFF, January 10, 2005
