Keep ‘perversion files’ secret, say Scouts
p2pnet view Off Topic:- Twenty years of “perversion files” should be kept secret despite an Oregon trial judge’s order to open them, says a lawyer for the Boy Scouts of America.
Attorneys representing Corporate America agree. But not on any humanitarian grounds.
A ruling to open the files, “would leave no judicial protection of trade secrets and make companies afraid to do business in Oregon”, they say.
Multnomah County judge John Wittmayer “abused his discretion” when he said the documents should be opened, the lawyer for the scouts, Robert Aldisert, told the Oregon Supreme Court yesterday, says the Associated Press.
“The files keep track of suspected pedophiles and others who violate the Boy Scouts of America’s rules in an effort to keep them from volunteering again”, says the story.
Introduced as evidence in a recent Multnomah County lawsuit, the files were “put together by the national leadership of the Boy Scouts between 1965 and 1985″, says OPB News.
“They contain information about accusations of molestation; actual abuse; the names of victims; and steps the Boy Scouts did and didn’t take to prevent abuse”, it says.
Crime-victim advocates and abuse survivors networks “argued in a brief that the release of the files will help society recognize and prevent abuse, but it argued against the media companies’ request to include the names of the alleged victims”, states the Associated Press.
But a “trade association that represents major multinationals including Microsoft Corp. and Boeing Co. has argued in a brief that the court should rule for the Boy Scouts”. A ruling against them, “would leave no judicial protection of trade secrets and make companies afraid to do business in Oregon”.
Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts of America appealed and the files have remained sealed pending the legal review.
Associated Press – Boy Scouts argue perversion files should be secret, January 11, 2011
OPB News – Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Boy Scouts Case, January 12, 2011
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January 13th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
” But a “trade association that represents major multinationals including Microsoft Corp. and Boeing Co. has argued in a brief that the court should rule for the Boy Scouts”. A ruling against them, “would leave no judicial protection of trade secrets and make companies afraid to do business in Oregon”. ”
IANAL, or maybe i’m just stupid, but how in the hell will unsealing records on people that molested young boys affect ‘trade secrets’ ?
I can see how some executive at a big corp with a lot to lose might be afraid of his .. indiscretions .. come to light, but trade secrets ?
This is just another example of issues such as ‘Trade Secrets’ being abused to hide criminals of wealth and means.
Am I wrong ? someone explain this to me in layman’s terms.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Dreddsnik,
It’s not that opening these particular files will show trade secrets. It’s that it sets legal precedent that anyone can use to force any company to open any record. That includes what people call trade secrets.
I think the problem we’ll see is that this is going to go all the way to the Supreme Court. If they agree, that sets precedent for the entire nation.
This was signed by ‘Jon’, but it wasn’t me – Jon
January 14th, 2011 at 11:25 am
‘ It’s that it sets legal precedent that anyone can use to force any company to open any record. That includes what people call trade secrets. ‘
Strangely, I don’t have a problem with this. Corporations have been hiding a LOT of dirt under the euphemism of ‘Trade Secrets’, including their true methodology of ‘identifying’ sharers. One day the say the use the same thing a p2p user does, the next they say they use a ‘proprietary’ method and no, you can’t examine it because it’s a ‘Trade Secret’.
Much of what ‘people call trade secrets’ aren’t. It’s just another way to avoid close scrutiny and must stop.
“I think the problem we’ll see is that this is going to go all the way to the Supreme Court. If they agree, that sets precedent for the entire nation. ”
Once again .. good. What do the politicians and police just loooove to say ?
Nothing to hide, nothing to worry about, right ?