Free Speech BS

Apple lost the recent case against some bloggers There’s a certain amount of triumph especially from Dave Winer’s corner of the blogosphere that this was some sort of strike back for free speech or recognising blogging as a legitimate medium. It’s not. This tells people they can divulge trade secrets and get away with it. … Continue reading “Free Speech BS”

Apple lost the recent case against some bloggers

There’s a certain amount of triumph especially from Dave Winer’s corner of the blogosphere that this was some sort of strike back for free speech or recognising blogging as a legitimate medium.

It’s not.

This tells people they can divulge trade secrets and get away with it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for whistle-blowing. If a blogger was taking a company or government to task for wrongness then that’s great. That’s what these laws were written to protect. But, on the other hand, if you have been trusted with a trade secret and you disclose it for fame or money, then you are quite simply a liar.

And if you are enticing or paying people to divulge these secrets then you have to assume guilt as well. The ignorant posturing of the defendants as harmless last refuges of free speech show me what crap people will spill in order to escape justice.

The bloggers should be immune. Their sources, in this case, should be named. They’re not blowing the whistle in the public interest. Sure – some members of the public may be interested but this disclosure will not affect the quality of life of the general public in a positive way.

In essence, the lying sack of shit who signed a contract to keep a secret should be thrown to the wolves.

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